Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• FIERY HOT - CREW Meeting - January 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m. - MARK your calendars today! 

• FIERY HOT, HOT, HOT - National FFA Scholarship Application DUE - January 9, 2025.  Apply today!

• HOT, HOT, HOT - American FFA Degree - Illinois Procedures  - AGAIN THIS YEAR***** The American FFA Degree application is DUE on January 15, 2025.  BIG ITEM to DOUBLE CHECK - Student EMAIL that is in their profile - DO NOT have an old high school email address they no longer have access to.  PLEASE make sure they UPDATE their email address PRIOR to completing the American FFA Degree application.  

• GETTING HOT - Alumni Annual Meeting, Friday, January 24 - Saturday, January 25, 2025 Click here for the Alumni Meeting listserv.  

• TOASTY - We are THRILLED to announce that Dr. Larry Case will be attending and speaking at the 2025 Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters Annual Meeting and will be signing copies of his book. Please fill out this form to preorder your book. This is a unique opportunity to own a piece of history and meet one of FFA’s most influential leaders!  Get a copy of his book entitled; “A Thread of Blue Corduroy” by Dr. Larry D. Case for $25.00.  

• MILD - State Officer Candidate and Parent Orientation - Saturday, February 8, 2025, from 1:oo p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click here to RSVP. 

• Start the New Year with Measures of HOT, HOT, HOT Deadlines:  

  • Mild -  moderate, comfortable,

  • Warm – pleasantly hot, usually comfortable

  • Toasty – comfortably warm, cozy feeling

  • Balmy – warm, often with a hint of humidity or a mild breeze

  • Sizzling – very hot, like food on a grill

  • Sweltering – uncomfortably hot and often humid

  • Blistering – intensely hot, can be painful if exposed for too long

  • Scorching – extremely hot, feels almost burning

  • Baking – dry, overwhelming heat, like inside an oven

  • Boiling – so hot it feels like it could almost burn skin

  • Torrid – oppressively hot, often associated with dry heat

  • Searing – intensely hot, almost burning on contact

  • Fiery – blazing hot, similar to fire or flames

****NEW Information****

1.  Illinois FFA January 2025 Board Report

2. Compeer Financial Scholarships

3. American FFA Degree Intents

1.  Illinois FFA January 2025 Board Report

Please click here for the FFA Board January Report.  

2.  Compete Financial Scholarships

Compeer Financial Offers Scholarships to High School Seniors

$1,500 scholarships available to 123 students

Sun Prairie, Wis., (December 31, 2024) – The Fund for Rural America, Compeer Financial’s corporate giving program, is offering 123 scholarships to students this spring. Graduating high school seniors with an agriculture or rural background, or those planning to major in an agriculture-related field, are encouraged to apply by March 15, 2025.

The $1,500 scholarships go towards educational tuition expenses at community colleges, universities or technical schools. Qualified applicants must be graduating seniors residing in Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory with a 3.0 GPA or higher. Recipients are selected through a competitive process based on a combination of written essay submissions, academic achievement and agricultural, community or youth organization involvement.

The Fund for Rural America has awarded more than $1.25 million in scholarships to 837 graduating seniors since 2018.

“Providing scholarships is just one way we can support the future of the ag industry,” said Karen Schieler, manager of corporate giving at Compeer Financial. “We look forward to getting to know another outstanding group of seniors who share Compeer’s passion for agriculture.”

Students can find more information and complete the online application at compeer.com/scholarships.

3.  American FFA Degree Intents

Click here to view the 2025 list of Illinois FFA members who have submitted Intents for the American FFA Degree.  The FFA Center uses the intent list to build an interview schedule and plan for the review for the number of applications anticipated to be submitted by January 15th.

**** 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.  

• 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 9, 2025 - National FFA Scholarship Application DUE - Apply

• 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