Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

HOT, HOT, HOT - #SpeakAg Showcase Submission Deadline: September 25, 2024

****NEW Information****

1. Illinois FFA CARE Document Review When Completing your Roster

2. Office Cleanout Day - Wednesday, September 25, 2024 OFFICE Closed

3. FFA Chapter Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Unclaimed Property 

4. 2025-2026 FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

5. Rockford Icehogs - FFA Night - December 14, 2024

6. 2024 GROWMARK Mike Builta Memorial FFA Jacket Contest 

7. School Swine Project Grant Announced

1.  Illinois FFA CARE Document Review When Completing your Roster

CARE Form REVIEW as you complete your Roster

Illinois FFA C.A.R.E. - Commitment to Appropriate and Respectful Experiences  - CARE Form before you start the school year for FFA. I know that AET has a blank for Mother and Father. If they do not have both people in their life, or if they only have one guardian, then just put that person's information in both blanks and add just their email for them to submit their permission. We will approach AET and ask that they update their language to state mother/guardian and father/guardian for future use.

The 2024 - 2025 Illinois FFA State Officers have created a video for all students to check out before they come to FFA conferences, conventions, and events and participate in FFA events at the local, section, district, state, and national levels. Please take a moment to watch and share this with your students as they complete the CARE form. They do such an amazing job of connecting with your FFA members.

I just wanted to make sure that I touched base with all of you and asked that you remind your students to be mindful of the following things as they prepare for their MISSION in Illinois FFA this year: 

• Be respectful of everyone, not only FFA members attending the conference, but also the facilitators, our hosts, and anyone we encounter.  

• Be Kind & Empathetic to your fellow FFA members, we never know what someone else is experiencing or where they are coming from with their perspectives. 

• Remind them that FFA events are designed to bring us Together in leadership.  Divisive or disrespectful actions only work to impede our process as growing leaders. 

• Remind them that FFA experiences are designed for them to learn about opportunities in the agricultural industry, personal goal setting, defining success, leadership, and growing as leaders.  Encourage them to be ready for that development, discoveries, and much more.  

• Remind them to have Fun & Embrace every opportunity. 

• Remind them to Reflect on each of their experiences on their FFA journey, and ask them to reflect on what they experienced and how they continue to grow as leaders in shared experiences.  

Thank you for taking a moment to set the tone for this year with your leaders.  We are so thankful to all of you for your leadership and passion as agriculture teachers.

2.  Office Cleanout Day- Wednesday, September 25, 2024 OFFICE Closed

Good morning everyone, just a reminder, that Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at the FFA Center, is Office Cleanout Day!  It’s a favorite day around here, but more importantly, one of our most important days for the upkeep of our building, materials, and supplies, not to mention sanity.  So please be patient with us, and leave a message, we will get back to you as soon as we are available.  

REMINDER - September 25, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED, Office Cleanout Day

3. FFA Chapter Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Unclaimed Property 

Click here to view a list of Illinois FFA Chapters or Alumni chapters that have unclaimed funds from the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office.  Click here to access the website to find directions on how to claim those funds.  

4.  2025-2026 FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid

The Department of Education recently announced that the 2025-2026 FAFSA will be released on December 1 with full end-to-end functions.  Click here for information to share with your seniors.  

5. Rockford Icehogs - FFA Night - December 14, 2024

Click here for more information.  

6. 2024 GROWMARK Mike Builta Memorial FFA Jacket Contest 

The GROWMARK Foundation is teaming up with Illinois FFA and the family of Mike Builta to provide 25 jackets to Illinois FFA students to honor the legacy of long-time employee Mike Builta, who passed away unexpectedly in 2019.

The GROWMARK Foundation has provided 125 jackets to Illinois FFA members over the last five years. FFA members are asked to answer the question “What does the FFA jacket mean to you?” and share the main goal they wish to accomplish as an FFA member. The Builta family reviews student submissions and chooses 25 students to receive the jacket, a scarf, or a tie, along with a memorial FFA/GROWMARK pin with Builta’s name.

The application is now open and closes on September 13, 2024. All Illinois FFA students who have yet to purchase a jacket are encouraged to apply.

Mike 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.  Please click here to open the application.  

7.  School Swine Project Grant Announced

The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) is offering universities, colleges, and high schools based in Illinois the opportunity to apply for grant dollars for projects focusing on the betterment of the pork industry.

Grants will be awarded to those selected for up to $2,000. If awarded, the IPPA will ask for a report on the findings of the project. If appropriate, the committee may also ask for a presentation of the results at a future meeting.

The application deadline is September 30, 2024.

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

• PREVIOUS LISTSERVS - CLICK HERE to view - 2024 - 2025 School Year

• CLICK HERE to view - the 2023 - 2024 School Year Previous Listservs

• 2024-25 State CDE/LDE Calendar

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

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

• 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 4, 2024 - Virtual CREW Meeting

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

• September 9, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

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

• September 10, 2024 - Elite Conference Registration CLOSES

• 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 III 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 16, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.

• September 20, 2024 - Elite Conference, Heartland Community College, Normal

• September 25, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED, Office Calendar/Cleanout Day

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

• September 30, 2024 - Virtual ICAE Meeting, 12:30 p.m.

• October 1, 2024 - FFA ROSTERS DUE

• October 1, 2024 - 2024-25 FFA Chapter Strategic Plan DUE

• October 1, 2024 - IACCAI Conference Registration ENDS

• October 1, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Letter of Intent DUE

• October 2, 2024 - Early Bird Registration ENDS for State Land Use CDE 

• October 2, 2024 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Land Use CDE

• October 3, 2024 - National Convention Prep Day, IAA Building, Normal, IL

• October 7, 2024 - Illinois Foundation FFA Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• October 7-11, 2024 - Chapter Visits - Sections 2, 5, 7, 17, 25 

• October 8, 2024 - Virtual State Officer’s Meeting, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

• October 9, 2024 - IAVAT Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield, IL

• October 14, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• October 15, 2024 - IL FFA Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield, IL

• October 16, 2024 - State Land Use CDE, Rend Lake Community College, Ina, IL

• October 17-18, 2024 - IACCAI Conference, Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL

• October 23-26, 2024 - National FFA Convention, Indianapolis, IN

• October 29, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference Registration & Food Allergies Form ENDS

• October 29, 2024 - PAS Fall Conference Registration ENDS

• October 30, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni Ground Zero Conference & WLC Scholarship Applications & Letter of Recommendations DUE

• October 31, 2024 - IAVAT & NAAE Dues DUE

• November 1, 2024 - Administrators Approval of FFA Rosters DUE

• November 2, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Council Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• November 4-7, 2024 - Chapter Visits - Sections 3, 6, 9, 20

• November 6, 2024 - Virtual CREW Meeting

• November 7, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00

• November 9, 2024- State Ag Sales Results DUE

• November 11, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November 11, 2024 - BUILD Conference Registration & Food Allergies Form ENDS

• November 12, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference, LLCC, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL

• November 14, 2024 - Fall PAS Conference, Illinois State University, 100 N University St, Normal, IL

• November 15, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference, Richland Community College, 1 College Park, Decatur, IL

• November 18-22, 2024 - Chapter Visits - Sections 8, 11, 14, 22

• November 23, 2024 - State Ag Sales, LLCC, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL

• November 25-26, 2024 - BUILD Conference, ISU, Bone Student Center, Normal

• November 27, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closes at 12:30 p.m.

• November 28-29, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 29, 2024 - State Dairy Foods CDE Mandatory Registration ENDS at 11:59 p.m.

• November 29, 2024 - State Agronomy CDE Early Bird Registration Closes