Illinois Agricultural Education

Dear Administrators and Counselors,

Please save the dates for our 2026–2027 Agricultural Education Workshop Series. These professional development opportunities are designed to support school leaders, counselors, and educators in strengthening Agricultural Education programs, improving student pathways, and expanding opportunities for students in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR).

Below is the full schedule of in-person, virtual, and regional workshops:

Workshop Dates & Titles: FLYER

• July 31 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  Supporting Beginning Teachers in Agricultural Education (In-Person, Springfield)

• August 19 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  Coaching and Supporting Today’s Agricultural Education Teacher (Virtual)

• September 16 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

  NCAA Approval Workshop @ Cambridge High School (In-Person, Cambridge)

•  September 23| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Career Pathways, CCPEs & Dual Credit: Connecting Ag Education to Postsecondary Opportunities (Virtual)

• October 14| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

What Could Your Ag Department Look Like? (Virtual)

• November 18 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

The True Cost of a Quality: Ag Program: Budgeting Beyond the Classroom (Virtual)

• December 9 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  Agricultural Education is Not a Club: Understanding the Three-Circle Model & FFA Impact (Virtual)

• January 20 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  Soft Skills Through Agricultural Education: What Employers Want & Students Gain (Virtual)

• February 26 | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

  Cultivating Connections in Agricultural Education (In-Person, Dixon)

• March 15 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  AFNR Grants Ready for Success (Virtual)

• June 9 | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

  Building Stronger Agricultural Programs: What Leaders Need to Know (In-Person, Springfield)

These sessions are designed to strengthen understanding of Agricultural Education pathways, improve student advising and programming, and support long-term program growth across schools.

Please mark your calendars, and additional registration details will be shared closer to each date.

Thank you,

John Heiser

District 1 Program Advisor