Merrill Adams crowned Miss Cassopolis 2025

Published 5:00 am Sunday, November 10, 2024

By Max Harden

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CASSOPOLIS — A new royal court has been crowned to represent the Cassopolis community.

When the dust settled, Merrill Adams was crowned Miss Cassopolis 2025 Saturday evening at Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School. Stephen Linton was crowned Mr. Cassopolis 2025.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Adams said. “I’m just so excited.”

The event was the pinnacle of the Miss Cassopolis pageant, in which Little Miss, Miss Junior Teen, Miss Teen and Mr. and Miss and Mr. Cassopolis titles were awarded by a panel of judges. Adams inherits the crown from Miss Cassopolis 2024 Caitlin Jones. Adams was also named Miss Congeniality.

Adams is a senior at Dowagiac Union High School, is enrolled at Ross Beatty for agriculture classes and is dual-enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College. She is the Vice President of the Cassopolis FFA chapter, Michigan’s Region One FFA Reporter, is a member of Student Senate, Vice President of the Dowagiac National Honor Society and Rotary Interact Club.

Adams also participates in 4-H and is a member of Miss Michele & Co.’s Competitive Dance Team. After high school, she plans to attend college to earn her bachelor’s degree in animal science and pursue a career in the beef industry. Her dream is to have her own show cattle farm and help future generations find their passion not only in showing livestock but also the agricultural industry.

“I wanted to use all my skills from FFA and dance and all my other extracurriculars and just put them all together and try something new,” Adams said.

Contestants from each category performed a dance routine before taking part in formal presentations, a few questions and a walkthrough. The event also featured a performance by the Miss Michele & Co. dance team.

Adams is looking forward to representing Cassopolis in the 2025 Blossomtime Festival in April. Established in 1906, Blossomtime is Michigan’s oldest and largest multi-community festival.

Joining Adams in Blossomtime festivities will be Stephen Linton. A senior at Edwardsburg High School, Stephen participates in tennis, golf, bowling, robotics and taking part in The Fellowship of Christian Students Club. Stephen plans to graduate high school and then attend Central Michigan University to obtain his degree in engineering.

Throughout her reign, Adams hopes to inspire the next generation to try new things.

“I want them to be themselves and really try something new, because you never know what is gonna happen,” she said. “I’ve never done a patent before and before and look where it ended up taking me?”

Joining Adams in her court of honor is first runner-up Madison Conner, second runner-up Lacey Butcher, third runner-up Kayla Grover and Stephen Linton.

Miss Cassopolis Pageant results

Little Miss Cassopolis

Second runner-up – Caraline Martynowicz
First runner-up – Isabella Hester

Winner – MaKenna Williams

Miss Junior Teen Cassopolis

First runner-up – Mia Conner

Winner – Khloe Hester

Miss Teen Cassopolis

First runner-up – Gennavieve Martynowicz

Winner – Katelin Glon

Mr. Teen Cassopolis

Bryce Linton

Miss Cassopolis

Miss Congeniality – Merrill Adams

Third runner-up – Kayla Grover

Second runner-up – Lacey Butcher

First runner-up – Madison Conner

Winner – Merrill Adams

Mr. Cassopolis

Stephen Linton

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