Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

HOT, HOT, HOT - Golden Owl Award Nominations DUE November 15, 2024
For more information and to nominate a teacher, click here.

HOT, HOT, HOT - OFFICE CLOSED - Monday, November 18, 2024.  The Illinois FFA Center staff is taking a professional development day for our Annual Staff retreat so the Illinois FFA Center will be CLOSED - Monday, November 18, 2024.  

GETTING WARMER - Ag Skills Showcase - Artifacts due December 4, 2024 

****NEW Information****

1. Messages from Thad Bergschneider, 2024 - 2025 National FFA President 

2. Pollinator Habitat Projects for Students 

3. Zambia Maize Improvement Project

4. Maschhoff Grant Opportunities

1. Messages from Thad Bergschneider, 2024 - 2025 National FFA President: 

• To the Illinois FFA Board of Directors — I just want to say thank you. Thank you for supporting me financially with the NOC budget, to make sure traveling and being in Indianapolis as a National Officer Candidate was not a burden. And, more importantly, thank you for helping create this wonderful Illinois agricultural education system. I feel grateful to be from Illinois. Thank you all, and looking forward to seeing you at the Convention, or, hopefully, before then! 

• All Illinois Ag Teachers— Your support means more than you know. As a National Officer Candidate, I got so many hugs, texts, and good luck from ag teachers across the state, and you all know who you are. And even before that, it was my experiences in your classrooms and with your students that made me want to run for National Office in the first place. Thank you for inspiring me, and developing students that continue to motivate me. Your impact goes further than you realize. 

2.  Pollinator Habitat Projects for Students 

Are you an educator looking for a hands-on pollinator habitat project for your students?

Sand County Foundation now offers two educational opportunities: Seed Starter Activity for grades K-12, and Pollinator Habitat Grants for high school students.

We are now accepting applications for the Seed Starter Activity for the 2024-25 school year for educators in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until materials are gone, or on January 1st.

We will begin accepting applications for Pollinator Habitat Grants in March 2025. 

Visit this link to learn more, and to apply: sandcountyfoundation.org/schoolgrants

Please feel free to contact Haley Diem at hdiem@sandcountyfoundation.org with questions.

3. Zambia Maize Improvement Project

“As the holiday season draws near, most of us here in the Midwest are guilty of taking for granted the abundance we enjoy every day – a plentiful food supply; homes that have indoor plumbing as well as electricity and natural gas for heating and cooling; more than an ample supply of clothing, motorized vehicles and fuel for easy transportation; modern equipment for planting and harvesting our crops . . . the list could go on and on. At the same time, we’re also aware that many people around the globe are not as fortunate. This is why the Rotary District 6460 Foundation is reaching out to the Illinois FFA. We’d like to share with you an opportunity to learn about one of its current projects to improve global food security, through its work with farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, and how FFA members can help support these efforts.” Eric Dolbeare, Zambia Maize Project

Riley Wells and I had a great opportunity to visit with Eric and Roberta Dolbeare and Todd Steinacher about the Zambia Maize Improvement Project.  

If any FFA Chapter is interested in learning more about agriculture in Africa or the educational opportunities within the Zambia Maize Project, please contact Eric Dolbeare - at 217.242.1168 or email him at edolbeare@adams.net.  Please click here to see a brief video about the project.  Here for the podcast and here is their informational flyer.  

4. Maschhoff Impact Grant Program

A number of grants are available for local communities, students and FFA Chapters through the IMPACT Program. Be sure to check them out as you plan for your upcoming events.

**** 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 - Added New Event - 11-7-24

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

• 2025 State FFA Convention Wyndham Hotel Room Block Link (PAL Full)

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

• 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 18, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Staff Retreat

• 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 30, 2024 - State Dairy Foods CDE Mandatory Registration ENDS at 11:59 p.m.

• November 30, 2024 - State Agronomy CDE Early Bird Registration Closes

• November 30, 2024 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Dairy Foods & Agronomy CDE

• December 3, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Roster & Dues DUE

• December 12, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30

• December 14, 2024 - State Dairy Foods & Agronomy CDE, University of Illinois, Stock Pavilion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL 

• December 20, 2024 - IL FFA Center Christmas Party, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm.

• December 23, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSES at 12:30 pm

• December 24-January 1, 2025 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• January 3-4, 2025 - Joint Board Meeting & Section Chairs Meeting, Springfield

• January 6, 2025 - American Degree Intents DUE

• January 8, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference at the Northfield Inn Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 8, 2025 - CREW Virtual Meeting, 3:30-5:00

• January 10, 2025 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 13, 2025 - IL Foundation FFA Board Meeting, Springfield, IL

• January 15, 2025 - American Degree Applications DUE

• January 15, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the WIU, Macomb Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 17, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the SIU, Carbondale Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 20, 2025 - IL FFA Center Closed for Holiday

• January 20, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the JJC, Joliet Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 22-23, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, Northfield Inn & Suites, Springfield

• January 23, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the Effingham Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - State Horse Reasons Mandatory Registration ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - State Horse Non-Reasons Early Bird Registration ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Horse CDE

• January 24-25, 2025 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Annual Meeting & Auction, Springfield, IL

• January 29, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, WIU, Macomb, IL

• January 31-February 1, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, SIU, Carbondale, IL