Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - REMINDERS:  

• May 1 - State Convention Talent Application DUE May 1, 2023

• DEADLINES EXTENDED for Band, Chorus and Drum Line - More Applicants needed and welcome!

  •  State Convention Band Application DUE May 1, 2023

  • State Convention Drum Line Application DUE May 1, 2023

  • State Convention Chorus Application DUE May 1, 2023

• Eldon Witt Scholarship Applications DUE May 1, 2023

• State Spanish Creed Speaking LDE, please click here to complete the intent to participate in the State Spanish Creed Speaking LDE - ALL intents due by May 1, 2023.  

****NEW Information****

1. Reporter Applications - Reporter Award Applications - DUE May 1, 2023

2. FFA Board Updates - MUST READ

3. 2023 Illinois FFA State Officer Candidates

4. Ed Curry Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Memorial Scholarship

5. Scrapbook - Intent 

6. 2023 Illinois FFA Dave Cain Photography Contest

1. Reporter Applications - Reporter Award Applications - DUE May 1, 2023

Each year the top ten chapter and section reporters in Illinois are selected and recognized by the Illinois AgriNews on stage at the State FFA Convention and invited to serve as part of the State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom. Click here for the Chapter Reporter Award application. DUE May 1, 2023. 

***  AGAIN THIS YEAR - ATTENTION Chapter/Section Reporters: 

The top 25 applicants for the Chapter and Section Reporter Award will have the opportunity to be a Flag Bearer in the First Opening session of the 95th Illinois FFA Convention on June 13, 2023.  Fill out the application to be considered. You will receive an email if you have been selected after the selection process. 

2.  FFA Board Updates from 4/18/2023

• Clicke here for minutes of the Illinois FFA Board meeting from 4/18/2023. 

• Consitutional Amendment - The FFA Board has passed bringing forth the constitutional amendment to the 95th State Convention delegates of changing the word section to region. This will be voted on in person on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at the Business/Election Session that will begin at 7:30 a.m.  The FFA Board approved to recommend to the delegates to limit the debate to 30 minutes with one debate per person per topic with each debate not to exceed three minutes.  

• Proposed Constitutional Change:  Illinois Association FFA rename the current 25 sections to 25 regions.  

• NEW this YEAR - Illinois FFA State Awards lunch at the 95th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention will welcome, all State Proficiency Winners, State SOE Winners, CDE & LDE State winning teams and individuals, as well as State Agriscience Award winners on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. at the Wyndham Hotel - Grand Ballroom. 

3. 2023 Illinois FFA State Officer Candidates

The 2023 Illinois FFA State Officer Selection Committee process took place Saturday, April 15, 2023, many thanks go out to the members of our Selection Committee, they had a very difficult job to do.  We are pleased to announce our 2023 Illinois FFA State Officer Candidates click here to view the candidate resume’ booklet and click here to view the candidate introduction video.   

4. Ed Curry Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Memorial Scholarship

Ed Curry was a long-time ag teacher and FFA advisor from Section 1 whose passion was to find the best in everyone.  He lived to make every moment count and to instill in his students that they were valued and they can make a difference.  His passion for camp was infectious.  

HE LOVED CAMP!  Every part of it.  He always loved a good challenge to try to have someone attend who was unsure about stepping outside of their comfort zone.  Mr. Curry was an FFA advisor, who taught with kindness, compassion, and inclusion. He volunteered his time as a staff member of the Illinois FFA Leadership Camp for every year, beginning in 2006.  Camp was a place where Mr. Curry was able to become a trusted mentor, advisor, and friend to many more students than he had in his chapter or section. He was always willing to lend an ear to listen or give advice and direction to anyone who sought him out.  He was a great friend to not only the FFA members attending camp but also to the other camp staff and the FFA Center staff, as well. Mr. Curry used his time at camp to impact as many members as he could.

To honor his work and life, camp scholarship(s) in the amount of $215.00 will be awarded to attend  Illinois FFA State Leadership Camp in Monticello.     

Please click here to complete the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship.  Applications are due by May 15, 2023. Once a student completes the application the FFA Advisor must complete and submit a letter of recommendation stating why you think your student should be a recipient of the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship via email to intern@illinoisffa.org by May 15, 2023, for their FFA member who submits an application for the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship.  

Applicants and teachers will be notified by late May/early June.  

5.  Scrapbook Competition

Please click here to complete the 2023 Digital Scrapbook Intent. The Digital Scrapbook competition will be judged prior to convention and winners will be recognized during convention.  With the unavailability of the official scrapbooks from National FFA and declining numbers in this competition, we are still determining if we will have the traditional scrapbook competition.  

6.  2023 Illinois FFA Dave Cain Photography Contest

Click here to submit your photos by Friday, May 19, 2023.   Here are some good example photos.  Click here for the rubric.  

Rules and Guidelines

1. Contestants must be members of the Illinois Association FFA.

2. All work must be that of the entrant. 

3. There are five categories: 

   1. Blue Jacket Best 

   2. Scenes of the Agriculture Industry 

   3. Animal Agriculture

   4. FFA Magical Moments

   5. Ag Education at Its Finest 

4. Each contestant may submit a total of five photos; one photo per category. 

5. Judges reserve the right to move a photo into a more suitable category. 

6. All photos must be in horizontal or landscape format. 

7. Photos must be submitted by or on Friday, May 19, 2023. 

8. Photos must be taken by the contestant during the time frame of June 1, 2020 to May 19, 2023.  

9. Photos may be digitally enhanced. 

10. Photos are to be submitted through the Photography Contest Google Form. 

11. Photos may not have been entered in a previous Illinois FFA Photography Contest. 

12. Photos become the property of the Illinois Association FFA for use in publications and promotion.

7.  2023 State Greenhand Quiz Bowl Competition

We are SUPER excited to be bringing the State Quiz Bowl Competition back to the 95th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, starting at 10:00 a.m.  We are still determining all of the Section Winners (a few sections will have their Greenhand Quiz Bowl in the Spring), once we know all of the winners, those schools will be emailed more details about the event.  

**** PREVIOUS Information Shared - WORTH Sharing Again****

• CLICK HERE to view

*Please NOTE, that if you click on Dates & Deadlines it will take you to the www.ilaged.org calendar.  

Instructions on how to register for the IAVAT Conference.

2023 IL FFA State Convention Wyndham (Downtown) Springfield Hotel Room Link

President Abraham Lincoln's Hotel Rooms Sold Out for State Convention.

2023 IAVAT Conference - Sheraton Lisle Hotel Room Block Link (Monday night is sold out - change the dates to Tuesday-Thursday and you can book online or call the hotel).  The IL FFA Center is working on getting more rooms in the block 4/12/23.) - $123 Plus Tax, the room block closes Monday, May 22, 2023.  Please note the room block link is set to register for hotel rooms for Monday-Thursday, so please update to the dates that you need before submitting your registration.

2022-2023 CDE Calendar and General Information-Updated 3-9-23 & 2022-23 Trading Post

Instructions on How To Register for Events, CDE's-Adding/Editing Participant Names, and Waiver Uploads for Events

Start/Reactivate an Alumni with Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters

2022-23 C.A.R.E.S Waiver Form Listserv with Instructions - Required for all students attending conferences, leadership camp, and conventions.

• April 27, 2023 - Middle School Conference, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703.  

• May 1, 2023 - IL FFA WLC Trip Final Payment DUE

• May 1, 2023 - Top Section/Chapter Reporter Application DUE

• May 1, 2023 - Eldon Witt Scholarship Application DUE

• May 1 - State Convention Talent Application DUE

• May 3-4, 2023 - Illinois Envirothon, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp, Monticello, IL

• May 3, 2023 - State Ag Business Management CDE, District Sites TBA.  Please add/edit participants’ names on your registration before the CDE at www.ilaged.org (instructions above).  D1 - Highland Comm. College & Geneseo High School; D2- JJC at Weitendorf & Kaneland High School; D3: Lincoln Land Community College (in conjunction with the district public speaking and ag issues) - J Waters proctor; D4-Unity-Tolono High School, 1127 County Rd 800, Tolono, IL 61880- Kirsten Wyatt & Rich McCabe; D5 - Wabash Valley College & Red Bud High School

• May 4, 2023 - State Ag Mechanics CDE, Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive East Peoria, IL 61635.  Registration 8:00 - 9:30 a.m., the Event begins at 10:00 a.m.  Please add/edit participants’ names on your registration before the CDE at www.ilaged.org (instructions above).

• May 4, 2023 - Parliamentary Procedure LDE, Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive East Peoria, IL 61635.  By Appointment Only

• May 4, 2023 - Conduct Chapter of Meetings LDE, Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive East Peoria, IL 61635.  By Appointment Only

• May 12, 2023 - GROWMARK Scholarship Applications DUE

• May 16, 2023 - Results DUE State Job Interview & Public Speaking Results

• May 16, 2023 - Results DUE Greenhand Quiz Bowl

• May 17, 2023 - IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m. - Virtual

• May 22, 2023 - IAVAT Conference Sheraton Lisle -Naperville Hotel Room Block CLOSES (We might run out of rooms by this date, if so, please check hotels in the area for hotel rooms.)

• May 24, 2023 - State FFA Convention Registration CLOSES

• May 24, 2023 - FY24 Fair Contract DUE

• May 26, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSING at 2:30 p.m. for the Holiday

• May 29, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• May 30, 2023 - Results Due for Ag Issues

• May 30, 2023 - Mandatory Materials DUE for Ag Communications

• May 30, 2023 - Materials DUE for Public Speaking & Job Interview

• May 30-31, 2023 - State FFA Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center

• June 2, 2023 - IAVAT Conference Registration $50 Late Fee Begins

• June 12, 2023 - State Ag Issues, Lincoln Land Community College,  5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 12, 2023 - State Ag Communications, Lincoln Land Community College,  5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 13, 2023 - State Public Speaking LDE, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 700 E Adams St, Springfield

• June 13, 2023 - State Job Interview LDE, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 700 E Adams St, Springfield

• June 13, 2023 - American Degree Dinner, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 700 E Adams, Springfield

• June 14, 2023 - Greenhand Quizbowl, BOS Center, 1 Convention Plaza, Springfield

• June 14, 2023 - State Awards Lunch, Wyndham City Centre, 700 E Adams, Springfield

• June 13 - 15, 2023 - Illinois FFA State Convention, Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, IL 62702

• June 20 - 22, 2023 - IAVAT Conference, Sheraton Lisle Naperville Hotel, 3000 Warrenville Rd, Lisle, IL 60532.

• June 25 - July 2, 2023 - IL FFA WLC Trip, Washington, DC

• July 3, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 for Holiday

• July 4, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closed for Fourth of July

• July 10-14, 2023 - SIU State Officer Meeting

• July 21, 2023 - IL FFA Leadership Leave Early/Arrive Late Forms DUE to pdavis@illinoisffa.org.

• July 24 - 27, 2023 - Illinois FFA Leadership Camp, 4-H Memorial Camp, 499 Old Timber Road, Monticello, IL 61856

• July 31, 2023 - Joint Board Onboarding & EDI Training, Site TBA

• August 1, 2023 - Joint FFA & IAVAT Board Meeting, IL FFA Center

• August 8-9, 2023 - State FFA Officer Meeting & State Fair Set-Up, Springfield, IL

• August 10, 2023 - IL State Fair Parade, Springfield, IL

• August 10-20, 2023 - IL State Fair, Springfield, IL

• August 19, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Tickets Late Fee Begins

• August 28, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Tickets Registration CLOSES

• August 29-31, 2023 - Farm Progress Show, Decatur, IL

• September 1, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 for Holiday

• September 4, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Labor Day Holiday

• September 17, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Game, IL Foundation FFA Fundraiser, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

• September 22, 2023 - Elite Conference, Heartland College, 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761

• September 23, 2023 - State Horse CDE, Black Hawk College East Campus, 26230 Black Hawk Rd, Galva, IL

• September 30, 2023 - State Forestry CDE, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, 1205 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• October 9, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November 1-4, 2023 - National FFA Convention, Indianapolis, IN

• November 10, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November 18, 2023 - State Ag Sales, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• November 22, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 for Holiday

• November 23-24, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• December 9, 2023 - State Agronomy & Dairy Foods CDEs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL