Items in this listserv:

****NEW Information****

1. GROWMARK Foundation Awards FFA Jackets

2.  Light a Spark Grant

3.  NCGA, BASF Accepting Applications for 2019 Scholarships

4.  WLC for Illinois FFA

1. GROWMARK Foundation Awards FFA Jackets

In April 2019, Mike Builta, a GROWMARK vice president and long-time employee, passed away unexpectedly. To honor his memory, the GROWMARK Foundation will be providing 100 FFA jackets to FFA members in Illinois. 

Twenty-five jackets will be provided each year over the next four years. Students submitted an essay explaining what an FFA jacket means to them and their goals as an FFA member. 

The 2019 recipients are:

• Alexandra Austin  - Streator FFA Chapter, Streator, Illinois

• Arianna Bird  - River Ridge FFA Chapter, Hanover, Illinois

• Lucy Clark  - North Clay FFA Chapter, Louisville, Illinois

• Alicia Cox - Sandoval FFA Chapter, Sandoval, Illinois

• Alaina Deal  - Morrisonville FFA Chapter, Morrisonville, Illinois

• Alyssa DeSplinter  - Bureau Valley FFA Chapter, Manlius, Illinois

• Miriem Foster  - Fairfield FFA Chapter, Fairfield, Illinois

• Tessa Funderburk  - Morrisonville FFA Chapter, Morrisonville, Illinois

• Austin Hockenberry - Ridgeview FFA ChapterColfax, Illinois

• Jolie Johnson  - Newark FFA Chapter, Newark, Illinois

• Jordan Johnson  - Pearl City FFA Chapter, Pearl City, Illinois

• Breanna Lachance  - Grundy Area FFA Chapter, Coal City, Illinois

• Travis Leggett  - Newark FFA Chapter, Newark, Illinois

• Jaiden Mahler  - Serena FFA Chapter, Serena, Illinois

• Katelyn Martin  - Meridian-Macon FFA Chapter, Macon, Illinois

• Peter Metivier  - Normal FFA Chapter, Normal, Illinois

• Baylee Newman  - Grundy Area FFA Chapter, Coal City, Illinois

• Maddison Oliver - Fairfield FFA Chapter, Fairfield, Illinois

• Amelia Rodriguez  - Normal FFA Chapter, Normal, Illinois

• Abigayle Sichling  - Shawnee FFA Chapter, Wolf Lake, Illinois

• Aiden Soliday  - Blue Ridge FFA Chapter, Farmer City, Illinois

• Jhia Walker  - Morrisonville FFA Chapter, Morrisonville, Illinois

• Maria Ward  - Fairfield FFA Chapter, Fairfield, Illinois

• Morgan Wegs  - Brown County FFA Chapter, Mt. Sterling, Illinois

• Lily Young  - Tri-Valley FFA Chapter, Downs, Illinois

Builta was raised on a family farm near Bellflower, Illinois. He was an active FFA member and lifelong supporter of agricultural education. He held GROWMARK System management roles at Christian County Farmers Supply Company in Taylorville, Illinois and GRAINCO FS in Ottawa, Illinois, before becoming GROWMARK vice president of Energy and Logistics in 2018. 

The GROWMARK Foundation was formally incorporated in 2005 and supports 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organizations. The Foundation is focused on programs and activities which support: the vitality of the industry of agriculture; agriculture education and consumer understanding of agriculture's contributions to society and the economy; agricultural leadership development; and education about the benefits of the cooperative way of doing business. The GROWMARK System has been involved in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including youth and young leader education and development and scholarships, for decades.

2. Light a Spark Grant

Miller® and the AWS Foundation have partnered to establish the Light a Spark Grant.  This grant provides a starter package of equipment and supplies to introduce welding into an existing high school Ag-Ed Program, Career and Technical Education Class, or Practical Skills Course.  Up to 10 starter packages valued at more than $12,000 each will be awarded annually!

This application is not intended for secondary or post-secondary schools that have an existing welding program or course.  Those institutions should review the Welder Workforce Grant for eligibility.

 Apply Online  https://www.aws.org/foundation/page/light-a-spark-grant

Deadline to apply online is December 15th, 2019

To be eligible, high schools must have:

• Facility space presently available to house equipment, supplies, and conduct training

• Faculty currently on staff qualified to provide instruction

• Secondary or post-secondary schools that have an existing welding program or course are not eligible.

 The application requires:

• Program Qualification

• Current Program Description and Expected Outcomes

• Instructor Qualification

• Student Impact

• Commitments of Additional Support

• Letter of Commitment from School or District

• Letters of Support (optional but preferred)

Winning schools will receive a turnkey Miller® welding starter pack valued at more than $12,000!

The pack will include the following items (subject to change):

o   Millermatic 220 AC/DC Powersource - ability to perform GTAW, GMAW, & SMAW welding processes

o   Miller Spectrum 375 Plasma cutter

o   Oxy-fuel Welding & Cutting Outfit; including cutting & heating tips

o   SMAW, GMAW, & GTAW whips with consumable kit.

o   Welding Cart, Arcstation welding table, fume extractor, and safety screens

o   PPE & Hand tools; including welding gloves, jacket, auto darkening helmet, chipping hammer, wire brush, and more

o   *Awardees will have the option to purchase alternative equipment and supplies worth up to $10,000.  If choosing this option, awardee must submit an itemized budget with quotes and receipts subject to approval by the AWS Foundation.

Measures of Success

AWS Foundation will audit the success of the project throughout the term of funding, at intervals determined by AWS Foundation.  A summary of progress-to-date with specific, detailed information will be required. A final report, including recap of program implementation and number of students impacted, will be required. 

For questions, or more information, please contact John Douglass at jdouglass@aws.org .

Thank You,

Travis Jumper, M.S.Ed.,

CWI 14100661, CWE 1410006E

Assistant Professor / Coordinator Welding Technology

Lewis & Clark Community College

5800 Godfrey Rd

WW 104 

Godfrey Illinois 62035-2466

tjumper@lc.edu

(618) 468-4931 (Office)

(618) 468-7287 (Fax)

3.  NCGA, BASF Accepting Applications for 2019 Scholarships

The National Corn Growers Association is again offering its William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship thanks to the sponsorship of BASF Corporation.

Five $1,500 scholarships are available to undergraduate students at an accredited college or university.

The five scholarship winners and their parent/guardian will be announced at NCGA’s annual tradeshow and convention, Commodity Classic, which will be held on February 26 – February 29, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas.

Applicants or a parent/guardian must be a member of the NCGA. Past scholarship winners and employees and the families of employees of any division of BASF or their subsidiaries or the NCGA are not eligible for the scholarship. Students may apply for membership at https://membership.ncga.com/mobile/member.html. Many states have student memberships!

Applications must be submitted by December 1, 2019.  The online application is available here: http://www.ncga.com/scholarships. 

NEW: NCGA also created scholarship programs specifically for community college and technical school students as well a program specifically for graduate school students.

Please send this information on to students, educators, university staff, or anyone in your community who you believe would be interested.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Stephen Uram

Manager, Grassroots Advocacy and Leadership Programs

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)

632 Cepi Dr

Chesterfield, MO  63005

636-733-9004

Download the NCGA Action App

4.  WLC for Illinois FFA

Illinois FFA has submitted a week of preference for WLC as a group from Illinois, once we have that date confirmed we will post the registration for the 2020 Illinois FFA trip to WLC.  In the meantime, we are looking for a qualified and interested FFA Advisor to serve as the lead Chaperone for the Illinois FFA Trip to WLC. Please click here to view the contract for the WLC coordinator.  If you are interested please email Mindy Bunselmeyer mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org by Monday, December 2, 2019, to set up an interview time to discuss the position.  

**** PREVIOUS Information Shared****

**** WORTH Sharing Again****

Career and Leadership Development Events:

IAVAT:

 Registrations for CDEs

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

IACCAI:  

• Click here to view the listserv for IACCAI Conference.  

Illinois FFA:

Fall 2019 Illinois FFA Newsletter

• Click here to view the 2019 Fall Illinois FFA Newsletter  

Trading Post for 2019 - 2020

• *** NEW THIS YEAR - you can exchange CDE registrations.  

• 2019 - 2020 Illinois FFA Advisor’s Trading Post

Lock Box Practicums and Activities

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

FFA Board Updates

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Heritage and Cooperative Awards replaced with National Chapter Award Results

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

 2020 Illinois FFA State Convention Hotel Block Open

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

National FFA Results and Finalists

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Alumni:

National FFA Alumni Outstanding Member Application 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

National FFA Alumni Outstanding Chapter Application

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

4th Annual Illinois FFA Alumni Gun Raffle

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Center:

Registering for Events

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Office Closings:  

• November 28 - 29 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Thanksgiving 

• December 24 - January 1 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Winter Break and Holidays

Illinois Foundation FFA:

2019 - 2020 Local Collection Drive Kickoff Listserv 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2018 - 2019 Illinois Foundation FFA Report 

• Click here to view the latest Foundation report

Industry Friends of agricultural education posts:

 GROWMARK Foundation to Provide FFA Jackets

• Click here to view the listserv message posted by the Illinois FFA Center

AGCO Scholarships

• Click here to view the listserv message posted by the Illinois FFA Center

GROWMARK Announces 2020 Essay Contest Theme

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

National FFA:

Krone Battle of the Bales 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Intertribal Agriculture Council 2019 High School Essay Contest

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Try These Teacher Resources for Dealer-Sponsored Scholarships

• For tips on how to get scholarships for your FFA members with funds from AGCO, Ford, John Deere and Ram, check out "5 Steps to Signing Up Dealers."

The CHS Foundation has announced the opening of their 2019 grant cycle at: https://agclassroom.org/teacher/grants_chs.cfm

New! 2020 FFA Next Gen Conferences - Apply today!

• Sign of the Times

• The Sky’s the Limit

• Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

Living to Serve Semester-Long Grant - Apply today!

• National FFA Officers Talk Inclusiveness

• Growers Have Hopes for Hemp

New Educator Resources! 

• Combating Food Insecurity

• U.S. Poultry and Egg Curriculum

***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***

• November 18 - 22 - Chapter Visits -  - Click here to open the 2019 Chapter Visits Evaluation

• November 21 - 22 - Illinois PAS Conference, Lincoln Land CC, Springfield

• November 27 - Illinois FFA Center Administrative Council mtg, FFA Center, Springfield

• November 28 - 29 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED

• December 2- 4 - Major State Officer Team Retreat w/Executive Staff

• December 6 - 10 - Major State Officers attend Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Conduct Business & Industry Visits

• December 14 - State Ag Sales, Agronomy, Diary Foods and Meats CDE, UIUC & Parkland, Champaign-Urbana

• December 24 - January 1 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED for Winter Break and Holidays

• January 10 - Illinois FFA Board & IAVAT Board Joint Meeting

• January 11 - IAVAT Section Chairs Meeting, FFA Center, Springfield

• January 20 - Office Closed - MLK Day

• January 22 - American FFA Degree Webinar at 5:00 p.m. Click here for more info

• January 31 - February 1, 2020 - Illinois FFA Alumni Annual Meeting & Auction, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield

• February 7-8 - 212 Conference, Decatur Conference Center

• February 17 - 21 - Chapter Visits - Click here to open the 2019 Chapter Visits Evaluation

• February 22 - State Food/Vet Science CDE Early Bird Registration DUE

• February 22 - 29 - National FFA Week

• March 1 - American FFA Degree Applications DUE - Click here for more info

• March 2 - Alumni Camp Scholarships DUE

• March 4 - District Proficiency Awards

• March 6-8 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting, Springfield

• March 7 - State Food/Vet Science CDEs

• March 9 - 10 - State Review of American and State FFA Degree Applications

• March 13 - Judges Submitted from all District Winners for State Awards Day

• March 13-14 - Alumni Council Meeting, FFA Center - Springfield 

• March 20 - FFA State Officer Team Meeting

• March 21 - State Proficiency Awards Day, UIUC - Urbana

• April 2 - Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Meeting

• April 3 - State Dairy Cattle and Dairy Cattle Handlers CDE

• April 6 - 8 - American FFA Degree Interviews, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield

• April 10 - FFA Center Closed - Good Friday

• April 10 - Livestock Reasons & Horticulture Mandatory Registration DUE 

• April 10 - Livestock Non-reasons & Poultry Early Bird Registration CLOSES 

• April 13 - Administrative Council Meeting, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield

• April 15 - National Chapter Award Application DUE - ONLINE

• April 17 - 20 - Round 1 of National Chapter Award Judging

• April 18 - Major State Officer Selection Committee - Springfield

• April 21 - Illinois FFA Board Meeting, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield

• April 23 - 30 - Round 2 of National Chapter Award Judging

• April 24 - Super Friday - State Livestock, Poultry & Horticulture CDEs

• April 28 - Section Ag Mech results DUE to register for State Ag Mech

• May 6 - State Ag Business Management CDE

• May 12 - State Ag Mechanics CDE

• May 15 - Eldon Witt Scholarship DUE

• May 26 - 27 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting

• June 8 - State Ag Issues, Parliamentary Procedure, Conduct of Chapter Meeting and Ag Communications CDE/LDEs, Springfield

• June 9 - State Ag Communications, Public Speakings, Job Interview CDE/LDEs, Springfield

• June 9 - 11 - 92nd Annual Illinois FFA State Convention, Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield

• June 11-12 -  State FFA Officer Team Meeting

• June 15 - IAVAT Board Meeting & Section Chairs Meeting

• June 16 - 18 - IAVAT Conference

• June 18 - 19 -  State FFA Officer Team Meeting

• June 21 - 26 - Legacy Tour (Formerly the Heritage & COOP Tour)

• July 3 - FFA Center Closed - 4th of July HOLIDAY