Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• GREAT HELP - Improve Your Agriscience Fair Manuscripts

Take a look at these short videos developed by students and staff at the University of Florida to understand better the manuscript components of the National FFA Agriscience Fair.

• HEADS UP - Second Semester Students added to the roster.  Just a reminder that if you have second-semester students who are not on your roster yet, please get them submitted.  If you added members for the second semester, please go to your FFA membership tab to make sure you do not have any added members who are still pending due to missing information in their profile.  If you do, please make those corrections and resubmit the members to the FFA roster.   If you have any questions, contact Tammy at tyard@illinoisffa.org.

• HOT, HOT, HOT - BLISTER HOT - Chapter & Section President Award Applications Sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau - The following link contains the main page to apply for both the Top 10 FFA Section President Award and the Top Chapter President Award. https://ifbyouth.secure-platform.com:443/a

• Chapter President Deadline: April 12, 2024.  

• WLC Registrations Still Available (8)  - Registration closes on April 15th.  If going on the IL FFA WLC Trip, please complete the WLC Contact Information Form with the Uploaded Signed Consent Form/Insurance Card is DUE April 26, 2024.

•  96th Annual Illinois FFA Convention, June 11 - 13, 2024 

Applications for State FFA Convention

• State Convention Band Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Drum Line Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Chorus Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Talent Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom App DUE May 15, 2024

• State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE May 15, 2024

• Chapter Showcase - Click here to sign up to bring your Chapter Showcase Display.  DUE MAY 1, 2024

****NEW Information****

1.  FY25 Section Fair Contract Due May 22, 2024

2.  2024 Next Gen Food Products and Processing Application Deadline Extended

3.  2024 Spanish Creed Speaking LDE 

4. Band, Talent and Chorus Members NEEDED

5.  NEW EVENT - Chapter Showcase - SHOW OFF your AWESOME Chapter

1.  FY25 Section Fair Contract Due May 22, 2024

The FY25 Section Fair Contract is now available (see Question #4 which shows the correct years of this contract).  All FFA Chapters need to complete the section fair contract whether they plan to participate in a section fair or not.  If you will not be the teacher at that school next year, please still sign the contract and complete this process. Please just have one teacher sign the contract for schools with multiple teachers.  If you do not complete a Section Fair Contract by May 22, 2024, we cannot send it in later, so it is best just to complete one now.

Middle Schools if your Chapter ID is different than the high school’s Chapter ID, then please complete your own fair contract.

Please follow these instructions for completing the section fair contract and uploading it to the website.  If you do not plan to participate in Section Fairs from July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025, please email pdavis@illinoisffa.org.

2.  2024 Next Gen Food Products and Processing Application Deadline Extended

Do you have students interested in the food pathway? The Next Gen Food Products and Processing conference has been set for June 25-29 in Minneapolis, Minn. Students can engage with corporate donors such as Cargill, CNH, Domino's, and more. Next Gen allows students to explore pathways through informational sessions, panels, and tours. Visit here for more information and to apply. The application deadline is Tuesday, April 9, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Need financial assistance for traveling to the conference? Click here for more information. The deadline for financial assistance is Monday, April 15.

3.  2024 Spanish Creed Speaking LDE 

We are very excited to be offering the Spanish Creed Speaking LDE again this year in conjunction with the Public Speaking Finals held during the State FFA Convention. Please click here for the Spanish Creed Speaking LDE Rules.  Spanish Creed Questions.  

Please complete this intent DUE by Friday, May 3, 2024, to get an idea of how many preliminary brackets we will need at the state level.  So, if you have any students who would be interested in the State Spanish Creed Speaking LDE, please click here to complete the intent to participate in the State Spanish Creed Speaking LDE.  In the intent, we are alos asking if you know of any potential judges who are fluent in Spanish.  

4.  Band, Talent and Chorus Members NEEDED

96th Illinois FFA State Convention NEEDS your talent.  

AND Chorus Members AND Band Members - APPLY TODAY!

• State Convention Band Application DUE April 15, 2024

  • Trumpets, Clarinets, and Trombones, Oh my, ALL instruments needed!

• State Convention Drum Line Application DUE April 15, 2024

  • Especially need 4 to 5 more members sign up for the Drumline!

• State Convention Chorus Application DUE April 15, 2024

  • Especially need young men who would like to sign up for the FFA Chorus!  

• State Convention Talent Application DUE April 15, 2024

  • LOVE to see more members offer their talents to Illinois FFA!

5.  NEW EVENT - Chapter Showcase

Chapter Showcase - Click here to sign up to bring your Chapter Showcase Display.  DUE MAY 1, 2024

***NEW Attraction at the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention***

We WANT you to SHOW OFF your AMAZING FFA Chapter!!  

The Chapter Showcase will be held in our “Showcase and Share” Room, B6 in the Lower Level of the Bank of Springfield Center, NEW to convention this year. Each chapter may use 1 trifold presentation board to create their display which will stay up throughout the convention. Chapters may set up their display from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday (6/11). There are two 1-hour time slots, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Tuesday and 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, we ask that 2 members from each chapter manage their display to answer questions and interact with attendees as they cycle through the room. 

The following are items that should be included on a display: 

• Location

  • County

  • Section

  • District

  • Picture optional

• School Information

  • Size

  • Mascot

  • At least 1 picture

• General Chapter Information

  • Advisor(s)

  • Officer Team

  • Size

  • At least 1 picture

• Building Communities

  • Description of one event that the chapter does that would fit under the Building Communities area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

• Strengthening Agriculture

  • Description of one event the chapter does that would fit under the Strengthening Agriculture area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

• Growing Leaders

  • Description of one event the chapter does that would fit under the Growing Leaders area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

• Additional Information or Fun Facts (Optional)

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

• CLICK HERE to view

• 2024 State FFA Convention Tentative Agenda

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar Updated 1-23-24

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

• Fall & Spring Conferences Registration & Site Information

*Please NOTE that clicking on Dates & Deadlines will take you to the www.ilaged.org calendar.  

• April 10, 2024 - IAVAT Board Meeting,  IL FFA Center

• April 11, 2024 - Materials due for Marketing Plan Invitational CDE

• April 12, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Livestock, Horticulture, & Poultry CDEs to IL FFA Center 

• April 15, 2024 - Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship DUE 

• April 15, 2024 - Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• April 15, 2024 - St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Tickets Price Increases to $65 per ticket.

• April 15, 2024 - Results Due for Parliamentary Procedure & Conduct of Chapter Meetings

• April 15, 2024 - Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Applications DUE

• April 15, 2024 - WLC Registration CLOSES and 1st payment DUE

• April 15, 2024 - State Convention Band Application DUE 

• April 15, 2024 - State Convention Drum Line Application DUE

• April 15, 2024 - State Convention Chorus Application DUE 

• April 15, 2024- State Convention Talent Application DUE

• April 16, 2024 - FFA Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• April 17, 2024 - State Ag Business Management Early Bird Registration Closes

• April 18, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics Mandatory Registration Closes & Results DUE

• April 18, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics CDE Waiver DUE

• April 18, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Ag Mechanics CDE

• April 19, 2024 - State Livestock & Poultry CDEs, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Stock Pavilion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL

• April 19, 2024 - State Horticulture CDE, Parkland College, 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821

• April 23, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Administrative Council Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• April 23, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 

• April 24, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Ag Mechanics CDE, Parliamentary Procedure, & Conduct of Chapter Meetings to IL FFA Center 

• April 24, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL-2, Dixon, IL 61021

• April 25, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Rend Lake College, 468 North Ken Gray Pkwy, Ina, IL 62846

• April 25, 2024 - Marketing Plan Invitational CDE, Via Zoom, Hosted by Richland Community College

• April 26, 2024 - IL FFA WLC Trip Contact Information, Consent Form/Insurance Card DUE

• April 27, 2024 - IL FFA State Officer Candidate Selection Committee, Springfield Tentative

• April 29, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics Signed Participation Form DUE and must be uploaded to the State Ag Mechanics Registration on www.ilaged.org.

• May 2024 - Tentative Illinois Envirothon, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp Ground, Monticello, IL

• May 1, 2024 - State Ag Business Management CDE, District Sites TBA

• May 1, 2024 - WLC Final payment DUE

• May 1, 2024 - Dave Cain Photography Contest Entries DUE

• May 2, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics CDE, Parliamentary Procedure, and Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Illinois Central College, East Peoria Campus, 1 College Dr, East Peoria, IL 61635

• May 8, 2024 - St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Tickets Registration CLOSES at 5:00 p.m.

• May 10, 2024 - ICAE Meeting

• May 15, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• May 15, 2024 - District Job Interview, District Public Speaking & Greenhand Quizbowl Section Results DUE

• May 15, 2024 - State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom Application DUE 

• May 15, 2024 - State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE 

• May 21, 2024 - State FFA Convention Registration ENDS

• May 21, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• May 22, 2024 - FY25 Section Fair Contracts MANDATORY DUE

• May 24, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closing at 2:30 p.m. for Memorial Day Holiday

• May 27, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

• May 28, 2024 - State Ag Issues CDE Mandatory Registration ENDS & Materials DUE

• May 28, 2024 - Job Interview & Public Speaking Materials DUE

• May 28-29, 2024 - State FFA Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• May 29, 2024 - IL FFA Convention Business Session, Virtual

• June 1, 2024 - IL FFA Leadership Camp Registration ENDS

• June 7, 2024 - Ag Communications Mandatory Registration & Materials DUE to Lincoln Land Community College

• June 10, 2024 - Ag Communications & Ag Issues, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 11-13, 2024 - State FFA Convention, BOS Center, Springfield, IL

• June 11, 2024 - Job Interview & Public Speaking LDEs at State FFA Convention

• June 12, 2024 - Greenhand Quizbowl, State FFA Convention

• June 13, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Raffle Drawing, 1:00 p.m.

• June 13-14, 2024 - State FFA Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• June 18, 2024 - IAVAT Board & Section Chairs Meeting, SIU-Carbondale

• June 19-21, 2024 - IAVAT Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• June 23-30, 2024 - IL FFA WLC Trip, Washington, D.C.

• July 3, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 p.m. for Holiday

• July 4, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for 4th of July

• July 8-12, 2024 - State Officer Meeting

• July 8, 2024 - IL FFA Leadership Camp Health Profiles & Signed Obstacle Course Forms are DUE for each camper.

• July 17, 2024 - Arrive Late/Leave Early IL FFA Leadership Camp Form DUE

• July 22-25, 2024 -  IL FFA Leadership Camp, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp, Monticello

• July 29, 2024 - ELS (New Teacher) Conference, 1701 Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701

• July 30-31, 2024 - Beginning Ag Teacher Conference, Heartland Community College, 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761

• August 8, 2024 - IL State Fair Parade, Springfield, IL

• August 9-18, 2024 - Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL

• August 9, 2024 - Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair

• August 23-September 2, 2024 - DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL

• August 23, 2024 - DuQuoin State Fair Parade

• August 26, 2024 - DuQuoin Farm Follies, DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL 

• August 30, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closes at 2:30 p.m. for the Holiday

• September 2, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• September 3, 2024 - District I Star Conference, Black Hawk College East Campus, 26230 Black Hawk Rd, Galva, IL 61434

• September 4, 2o24 - District II Star Conference, Joliet Junior College, Main Campus, U Building, 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431

• September 5, 2024 - District IV Star Conference, Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938

• September 10, 2024 - District V Star Conference, Southern Illinois University, 1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• September 10, 2024 - District V Greenhand Conference & COLT, Southern Illinois University, 1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• September 11, 2024 - WIU Greenhand Conference, Western Illinois University, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455

• September 12, 2024 - District II Star Conference, John Wood Comm College; John Wood Community College, 37803 St Hwy 104, Baylis, IL 62314 

• September 13, 2024 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Forestry CDE

• September 14, 2024 - Early Bird Registration ENDS for State Forestry CDE

• September 20, 2024 - Elite Conference

• September 28, 2024 - State Forestry CDE, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, 1205 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901