Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• Looking for the list of 2024 Illinois FFA State Degree Recipients, the 2024 list of Illinois FFA American Degree recipients, and the 2024 Honorary FFA Degree recipients?  Look no further…click here

• HOT, HOT, HOT - BLISTER HOT - THAT IS TOMORROW!  

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

• State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE May 15, 2024

****NEW Information****

1. 2024 Illinois FFA Reporter Award Results

2. Message from Illinois Pork Producers Association

3. 2024 - 2025 Illinois FFA Section President Calendar

4. 2024 Illinois FFA Quiz Bowl Competition

5. Youth Excellence Seminar, AQHA 

6. State FFA Convention & IAVAT Conference Food Allergies/Special Meal Forms

7. 2024 NAAE Award Eldon Witt Scholarship Recipients Announced

8. Enjoy a Day in the Country:  Farm, Barn and Ag Tour 

1.  2024 Illinois FFA Reporter Award Results

Congratulations to these Outstanding Reporters! 

Top Section Reporter

Top Chapter Reporter

Click here to view all Reporter application results, sponsored by the Illinois AgriNews.  The Top 5 Section Reporters, the Top 10 Chapter Reporters and the GOLD Chapter Reporters will be recognized at the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention during the 2nd General Session that begins at 6:30 p.m.  Click here to view the 2024 Illinois FFA State Convention agenda.   Those designated as Flag Bearers will bring in the flags before the 1st General Session of the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention.  

2. Message & Opportunity from Illinois Pork Producers Association

Good Morning,

The State Fair will be here before we know it and the IL Pork Producers are looking forward to another great fair!

What makes the fair so great every year are the incredible groups we have volunteer to work at the Pork Patio.

We again are looking to support your organization in exchange for your hard work at the Pork Patio.  Our contribution will be $30 per volunteer per shift, in addition to supplying your group gate passes and of course, excellent pork!

Here is the JotForm for you to request which shifts you are available to send volunteers.  Shifts will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.  You will notice in the date column a number in parenthesis.  If you are selected to work the shift, you will need to bring the indicated number of volunteers to work the shift.

https://form.jotform.com/230865063746158

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you at this year’s fair!

Mike Borgic

Director of Membership

Illinois Pork Producers Association

mike@ilpork.com

Office: 217-529-3100; Cell: 217-971-9286

3.  2024 - 2025 Section President Tentative Calendar - Click here

4. 2024 Illinois FFA Quiz Bowl Competition

Still working on a few Sections to complete the current bracket 

Here are the Contest Rules - Rules

The Illinois FFA Quiz Bowl Competition will start at 10:00 am in the President Abe Lincoln Hotel (701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701), directly next to the Bank of Springfield Center). Students will be Competing on the 2nd Floor in the Governor Yates room and will be held in Freeport A, B, and C.  We ask that everyone arrive prior to 10 am, so there will not be any delays.  After your students compete, we ask they return to and stay in the holding room, where we will also be posting results until they compete again.  This will allow us to continue smoothly and stay on time.  Here is a Map of the President Abe Hotel - Hotel Room Maps

5.  Youth Excellence Seminar, AQHA 

Youth Excellence Seminar, or what is more fondly known as YES.  

YES is a 3 day educational and fun-filled conference that welcomes equine-loving youth ages 10 to 18, who are from any state or ride any breed. Some fun and educational activities include; listening to inspiring speakers, leadership development workshops, making new friends from all across the US, a community service activity, and so much more. 

This year, YES will be held from July 9 - 11, 2024, in Amarillo, TX, and they would love to have some of your youth join them this year! Our theme is "We're All In". Which for teh AQHA is the celebration of what makes each youth member unique, from the color of their horse or the class they ride in, is the community they all value. A community that embraces diverse backgrounds and interests, treats everyone with respect, and provides a welcoming atmosphere in a place where all members thrive.

Registration and Hotel Accommodations have been posted and can be found on the YES AQHA page: https://www.aqha.com/youth-excellence-seminar   

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Adrianna at the email or phone number below. 

Adrianna Goolsby, Region 5 Director - (973)756-5820  - adrianna.goolsby@vtsd.com

adrianna.aqhya@gmail.com

6.Event Food Allergies/Special Meal Forms due June 1, 2024

Please complete the food allergies/special meal forms for the State FFA Convention (and students) and/or IAVAT Conference by June 1, 2024.

7.  2024 NAAE Award & Eldon Witt Scholarship Recipients Announced. 

Congratulations to the following individuals!

NAAE Awards:

Ideas Unlimited Award - Taylor Wilkinson

Outstanding Middle/ Secondary Program Award - Blue Ridge High School

Teachers Turn the Key Professional Development Scholarship - Elaine Rudolphi

Outstanding Teacher Award - Trent Taber

Lifetime Achievement Award - Kent Weber

Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award - University of Illinois

Outstanding Early Career Teacher Award - Caseelynn Shimmin

Teacher Mentor Award - Tamra Gerstenecker

Outstanding Service Award - Susie Scott

Eldon Witt Scholarships:

Eldon Witt - U of I - Carmen Trotta

Eldon Witt - ISU - Kadie Pierson

Eldon Witt - WIU - Avery Isringhausen

Eldon Witt - SIU- Alexis Mueller

8.  Enjoy a Day in the Country:  Farm, Barn and Ag Tour 

Come see the workings of agricultural sites in the I&M Canal National Heritage Area while discovering the rich history of our region! On Saturday, June 29, hop in the car for this self-guided driving tour to explore our area’s barns, livestock, silos, and curiosities through this unique, family-friendly event.  Click here for more information.  

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

• CLICK HERE to view

• 2024 State FFA Convention Tentative Agenda

• State FFA Convention - Wyndham Room Block

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar Updated 4-11-24

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

• 2024 IAVAT Conference - All Teachers Please Read Before Starting to Register including Pre-Service, First Year Teachers, GAST Intern, Ag Ed Student/Intern.

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

• 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