PINETOWN — A Future Farmers of America team from Northside High School is set to represent Beaufort County and the state in a national competition in Indianapolis this fall.

During the 88^th North Carolina State FFA Convention June 21-23, Northside’s team had to select an agriculture-related issue, put together a portfolio to outline the issue and then present their program in a public forum, according to Amanda Ropp, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Northside.

Ropp said the students put a lot of work into the competition, beginning preparations in November and meeting at least twice a week since January.

“FFA competitions are wildly tough to win. Many chapters have three and four teachers with 250-plus FFA members. Northside has one teacher with about 100 FFA members — students that are also involved in so many other activities,” she said. “The amount of time preparing a winning, prepared team is unparalleled.”

The competing team moving on to the national level is comprised of seven students. Ropp said the national competition is more intense and requires the team to build up its portfolio with more public presentations.

Zach Jenkins, Northside FFA vice president, said the team experienced a challenge when some of its members were unable to attend the state convention, but the competitors banded together to make it work.

“We had to throw in a few new people that didn’t really know anything about the competition,” Jenkins said. “To have some people drop off at the last second, and other members of the FFA chapter to step up like they did.”

Ropp said she is proud of the team’s dedication to FFA and has high hopes for the students this fall.

“This team has been so dedicated. … They invested in one another and really cared about their issue and each other,” she said. “The value we place on leadership and soft-skill development, combined with the experiences we afford students, it’s hard to beat being an FFA member.”

“I understand the importance of modern agriculture, and I know that it is my responsibility to advocate and inform others about where their food and clothes come from,” chapter president Meredith Boyd said.

Jenkins said the Northside team has worked hard and will prepare as best it can before the national competition.

“I think we’ve got a good chance of winning it all,” he said.