With the beginning of the 2026 SAE Awards season beginning very shortly, I wanted to share an update with all of the information regarding updates, changes, and future changes to SAE awards in Illinois. Much of this information has been shared previously, but I want to make sure everything can easily be found in one location.
NEW Information:
Photo Limits - All Applications:
AET has made updates to the current photo system, each SAE project is now limited to 12 photos per project when submitted for an application. For example, a Vegetable Production Proficiency application with 3 total projects would have a maximum of 36 photos, 12 per project. These 12 photos that are pulled are the 12 most recently added to the student portfolio. As you begin to create applications in AET, you will need to identify which 12 photos you want AET to pull for each project.
To check and reorder photos:
Under “Journal”, select “Student Portfolio”
Select the Experience you want to check photos on.
Only the 12 most recent photos will pull for an application. If you want to include an older photo, you will need to reupload that photo to move it higher up the upload order, and add a caption.
Reminder: Only photos with captions will pull for SAE applications.
This was a change that was made by AET to decrease the file size of all applications. With this change, PDFs should open quicker and be easier to send via email. We are working with AET to potentially allow photo selection rather than upload date selection, but at this time those changes would not be possible until next year.
State Degree Applications - Events above the Chapter Level:
In the Illinois State Degree application, AET made changes to the checklist that did not follow State Guidelines for Events above the chapter level. This has now been fixed, but as a reminder, candidates must have participated in at least five different FFA Activities above the chapter level. (Should not be the same activity in multiple years). You must also exclude any activities before the student began high school ag/FFA. The same event at multiple levels is also considered 1 event above the chapter level.
Ex. Student participated in Section and State Horticulture CDEs for 3 years. The Horticulture CDE counts as 1 event above the chapter level, regardless of competition level or number of years attended.
Previously Shared Information:
Leased Animal Policy:
From Policies and Procedures, Section C:a:xii: “A “leased” animal is an Entrepreneurship project. Students pay the expense of the lease for the animal and all of the expenses to maintain the animal, plus any and all show expenses should be recorded as expenses. The income would be any prize money won by or offspring generated from the animal.”
Trade for Labor Policy Update:
From Policies and Procedures, Section C:b:
Starting January 1st, 2026, instead of using AET’s Trade for Labor system, all records are kept independently in separate books. Labor done in exchange for an expense should be recorded in a Placement book for a cash value of the labor. Expenses associated with that cash value should be recorded in the original Entrepreneurship book.
Records and income recorded in the Placement book impact the student’s Total Profit/Loss Statement (Section I) of a Degree or Proficiency Application. Money earned from the Placement book is then invested into the Entrepreneurship project.
This will negatively impact Proficiency Applications in separated proficiency categories (all categories beginning for the 2027 Awards Season), but will average out for Degree Applications.
If the labor being done falls under one specific Proficiency category, list the project as such. If it falls under multiple categories, you can either:
Keep records in multiple Placement Books
Keep all records in one book, with the knowledge that the single book Placement records can only be used towards Degrees, not Proficiency Applications.
Reminder: hourly rate should not exceed $50 per hour, and be a realistic payment for the work being done. Excessive or unique pay situations should be clearly spelled out in the Project Plan.
Additional 2026 SAE Awards Updates:
2027 National FFA SAE Awards Updates:
For the 2027 Awards Season, National FFA has made several updates to Proficiency categories and Agriscience Fair. The Illinois FFA Board is taking steps to prepare for these changes, the most critical of which will be:
Removal of all combined Proficiency Areas (every area will be Entr. or placement)
Addition of School-Based Enterprises
Addition of Service Learning Categories
In total, with Illinois Specific Areas, there will be 104 Proficiency Areas, as well as the 6 SOE areas. With these changes, updates will need to be made to judging events, rubrics, and awards and recognition. The Student Recognition and Materials Subcommittee has met for the past year to address these needs. If you have any questions, or are interested in participating in this subcommittee, please contact Sean Welch, swelch@illinoisffa.org.
Proficiency Folder:
Includes all proficiency, State Degree, Star, Discovery Star, and State Awards Day information:
Illinois FFA Policies and Procedures:
If you have any questions, please let me or you District FFA Board Representatives know. Thank you all, and best of luck in the 2026 SAE Awards Season!
Thank you,
-- Sean Welch
Illinois FFA Center
Phone: 217-753-3328
Email: swelch@illinoisffa.org
Address: 3221 Northfield, Springfield, IL 62702