Countryside Academy on Meadowbrook Road, west of M-140 in Benton Township, saw its Junior High Conducts of Meeting team advance through districts and regionals with gold performances to qualify for state in March. Cassie Hartsell from Cassopolis teaches agriscience in a building with an attached greenhouse for Berrien County’s only FFA program.

Countryside’s FFA Chapter has been extremely busy. It has been a month with many firsts for the FFA program this year since agriculture teacher Cassie Hartsell from Cassopolis has taken over as advisor.
The agricultural issues team got a late start in preparing and practicing for competition, but competed admirably.
The seven high school students who participated in this event gave a remarkable performance at districts, but did not move forward. Even though their journey was cut short, they have continued to present and educate others on their topic.
They had the opportunity to present in front of farmers and agricultural experts at the Mendel Center and are going to present in front of Farm Bureau, as well as on a farm tour in April.
The Junior High Conducts of Meeting team made it through districts and regionals with gold performances.
“This means they will go on to state in March,” Hartsell said. “This is a huge honor for Countryside Academy. The FFA Chapter also completed a very successful Valentine’s Day flower sale and will use the proceeds to help with the costs of attending State Convention.”
Countryside’s FFA Chapter will have 14 students representing Countryside Academy at the 84th Michigan State Convention.
“Another great honor for our chapter is that three high school students have turned in their applications to run for regional officers,” she said. “Hopefully one of them will go on to represent Region One. They still have to go through a series of interviews, but we are very proud of them in whatever they accomplish. The  FFA chapter has been very busy these last couple of months.”