Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

HOT, HOT, HOT - BLISTER HOT - PHONE’s been sitting in the sun too long HOT - Get Ready: Registration for the National Convention Opens TOMORROW - Don’t forget to register for the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo! Registration opens at 6 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, Click here for more information. 

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

****NEW Information****

1. CREW Meeting Update

2. National FFA Lessons and Connections 

3. NEW this Year - CARE Video and Document Connects to Roster Submission

4.  Illinois FFA Center Summer and Legislative Intern Positions

5. Great Opportunity from Lincoln Tech during the National FFA Convention 

6. Belonging & Engagement 

7. FFA Board September Report 

8.  2024 - 2025 Chapter Strategic Plan - DUE October 1, 2024

1. CREW Meeting Update

New this year, the first CREW meeting was held during the District STAR conferences.  The first FULL meeting to connect with every FFA Chapter in the state will be on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at a NEW TIME of 6:00 p.m.  

2. National FFA Updates, Lessons, and Connections 

This information is too good not to share.  Check out these updates, lessons, and connections from the National FFA:

Essential Guidelines for FFA Members During Election Season

As election season approaches, it’s a good time to brush up on the National FFA policy regarding political involvement and statements. FFA members are encouraged to participate as advocates and engage in the lawmaking process but are reminded to do so without compromising the integrity of our organization through their words, actions, and attire. More information can be found here, or to clarify, email cglowacki@ffa.org.

New Sense of Belonging Lesson: Fall and Winter Celebrations

Check out the new Sense of Belonging Celebration Lesson. This lesson will introduce your students to diverse fall and winter events celebrated around the world and showcase how agriculture plays a vital role in each celebration.  FUN lesson and connects to the agriculture industry well.  CHECK it OUT!

National Turfgrass Science Invitational Welcomes FFA Members

FFA continually revises events to ensure they remain relevant to the industry, FFA members, and the agricultural education classroom. To modernize and increase the number of quality experiences for members, FFA created a new model to recognize endorsed activities with other organizations. The National Turfgrass Science Invitational is endorsed by the National FFA and open to FFA members. Recognition of winners and teams that competed at the invitational will be held in conjunction with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of American (GCSAA) Conference and Trade Show. For more information and to register, click here.   Illinois Ag Teachers - Attending this event may not be a possibility, but at least check out the practicums - it’s great information for anyone teaching about Turf or Horticulture or even Ag Careers.  

3. NEW this Year - CARE Video and Document Connects to Roster Submission

As voted on at the Joint Board meeting in the Fall of 2023, the submission of each FFA member on your FFA roster will need to complete the CARE form. It was determined to do this at the beginning of the year and not have to complete the form before events.

Each FFA member will be required to watch the CARE video, shared in last week’s listserv which will be linked to their roster profile, and then required to sign the CARE document to complete their FFA profile in the roster system.  To submit their FFA membership, both the student and the parent/guardian will have to sign the electronic submission of the CARE document.  Once this is done, their membership can be submitted and they will not be required to to sign this document for every event they attend, it’s one and done for the year.  FFA members will be required to do this each year they are FFA members.  What questions can I answer for you?  

• When will the roster be ready for FFA member submission?  Soon, we hope, we are currently waiting on our website programmer.  You will be the second to know as soon as it is live.  Tammy Yard will be the first to know and I promise she will let you all know ASAP.  

• What will the link for the video and the submission of signatures look like?  It will be located in the student’s ILAGED profile in the roster system. We will provide detailed information and instructions on how to view and submit the form when the roster system is open and ready for submission.  

• What if my students have already submitted their information in ILAgEd? We will provide additional information once the programmer lets us know.

• Why is it taking so long?  We do not know nor do we have the answer to that either, we are frustrated too.  

4.  Illinois FFA Center Summer and Legislative Intern Positions

The Illinois FFA Center will hire Summer Interns for the Summer of 2025 to assist the center in completing and coordinating various events and activities.  Again this year, we are excited to offer the legislative internship created by the generous contributions in memory of Bill Johnson. 

Please click here to see the postings for both internships.  If you know of someone who may be interested in this opportunity please share this information with them.  Thank you for your time and for passing this information along.  

5. Great Opportunity from Lincoln Tech during the National FFA Convention 

See their message below:  

While you’re visiting Indianapolis for the FFA Convention October 23rd – 25th, you’re invited to stop by our campus — see our training facility up-close, have lunch, and enter to win a custom belt buckle. Campus tours will be available between 10AM and 3PM.  Lincoln Tech can help you get the skills you need for a rewarding career doing what you love.  Some of the fields we train in include Auto & Diesel Service, Welding, and other skilled trades.  This year, we’re offering more than $20 million in scholarships and grants*, and FFA participants may qualify for competition-based scholarships ranging from half to full tuition at

Lincoln Tech!

6. Belonging & Engagement 

Belonging is important, from Brené Brown author of “The Gifts of Imperfection”, writes, “Of this, I am certain.  After collecting thousands of stories I’m willing to call this a fact:  A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all women, men, and children.  We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong.  When those needs are not met we don’t function as we are meant to.  We break, we fall apart, we numb, we ache, we hurt others.  The absence of love and belonging will always lead to suffering.”  Reading this passage resonated with me as the core goal of the EDI Task Force is to further develop the sense of belonging for all FFA members and in any instance where it does not, help to create belonging.  

This group started in the Fall of 2020, it includes students/FFA members and adults/advisors who have a passion for making sure everyone in FFA feels valued and included.  This group has helped to provide professional development for teachers and helped shape the activities in the Cultivating Conversations room at the State Convention.  It is the goal of this group to welcome FFA members and teachers from large schools, small schools, Urban FFA chapters, and Rural FFA chapters, all voices are needed.  Teachers, would you consider joining the task force?  Or would you consider encouraging your students to participate? Please click here to sign up for the Task Force.  We will have our first meeting of the year on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 3:30 p.m.  Click here to view the agenda for the day and future meeting dates.   

7.  FFA Board September Report 

Click here to view the September FFA Board report with the highlights and the full minutes included.  

8.  2024 - 2025 Chapter Strategic Plan - DUE October 1, 2024

Just like in previous years, you can submit your Chapter Strategic Plan (Pre POA) in any format that your FFA chapter prefers.  The only requirement is that it is submitted electronically and received by the Illinois FFA Center by October 1, 2024.

The Chapter Strategic Plan (Pre POA) is a minimum standard requirement for Section E of the Incentive Funding Grant Application (IFGA).  You must submit a Chapter Strategic Plan ( Pre POA) by October 1, 2024, to receive any credit in Section E of the IFGA.  

The FFA Chapter can use any format they prefer, but all plans received must be sent electronically.  NO paper copies are needed.  

Steps to Complete the 2024Chapter Strategic Plan Process: 

1. ALL FFA Chapters MUST Click here

2. ALL FFA Chapters MUST Answer the first 5 questions of the form.  

3. EITHER upload your own plan OR complete the form you have opened created by the Illinois FFA Center.

4. ALL Chapters MUST open this form REGARDLESS of what format you choose to do your Chapter Strategic Plan in.

5. Here are the Questions on the Chapter Strategic Plan form.  

6. Questions, email mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org

7. Please click here for Chapter Strategic Plan instructions.  

8. DISCLAIMER - If your school does allow access to uploading to Google forms, please email your Chapter Strategic Plan to intern@illinoisffa.org by, October 1, 2024.

9. There is NO NEED for emails or any other correspondence for submitting the Chapter Strategic Plan.   

10.  As a reminder, the Chapter Strategic Plan (Pre - POA) is due October 1, 2024.

Because everything is submitted electronically, it is dated when you complete the form, there is NO need to send this to your Section President or anyone else, simply print a copy of it for your records.  

ENJOY what’s left of your summer and have a GREAT year accomplishing your goals!

**** 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

• All Conference Event Information, Flyers, Required Forms, Registration Information

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

• 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 Circle, 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