Due to World War II, competition was put on hold for one year, though some schools continued to field athletic teams, in 1944–45.
[1] In the late 1980s, however, shrinking school enrollments in northwest Iowa prompted numerous consolidations, causing the conference to disband.
After students from the very small Melvin school district began competing with Hartley in 1980–81, Milford merged with Arnolds Park in 1987–88.
In football membership dwindled to four that year, as Aurelia began an all-sports sharing agreement with Alta and Sutherland joined Paullina-Primghar under the South O'Brien Wolverines moniker.
Following the breakup of the league, H-M-S and South O'Brien began whole-grade sharing and became officially reorganized school districts.
Alta and Aurelia, on the other hand, maintained separate high schools, but continued to compete as a one team until 1996.
At this time, the schools resumed their separate athletic programs, and helped spark the formation of the new Northwest Conference.