Items in this listserv:
ALWAYS HERE: includes information that remains relevant from week to week. New updates are added as needed.
Illinois FFA Board Reports
Illinois FFA 100th Memorabilia - Click here to complete the form
100 Faces of Illinois FFA - Nominate someone today!
SAE Description Questions - Response will come from Sean via email
HOT, HOT, HOT - John Deere FFA Days Registration - John Deere will be hosting our first-ever John Deere FFA Days at the Coal Valley Test Site in Coal Valley, Illinois, and registration is officially open! Click here to register! Registration will remain open until Monday, September 28, or until we reach capacity. Please contact Kelsey Henderson at HendersonKelseyM@JohnDeere.com with any questions.
HOT, HOT, HOT - 2026 - 2027 FFA Chapter Strategic Plan - DUE October 1, 2026 - Please click here for Chapter Strategic Plan instructions.
HOT, HOT, HOT - Congratulations to those earning the American FFA Degree and teachers, and for all the information they need to know - click here.
HOT, HOT, HOT - 2026 National Convention Results
HOT, HOT, HOT - Harvest for All Program - 2026-2027
****NEW Information****
FFA Roster Deadline: October 1, 2026
A FREE College Test Resource
Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership
$7,500 for Your Automotive Program
ISTA 2026 Conference - October 5, 2026
Message from IAVAT Member Services Committee
John Deere FFA Days Final Registration
Nutrients for Life - Fertilizer Fun Box for World Fertilizer Day
FFA Roster Deadline: October 1, 2026
As a reminder, the deadline for getting your roster submitted is October 1, 2026, to be eligible for credit for having a chapter on the incentive funding grant (IFG).
Roster instructions can be found here
Here is a link to an FFA Roster Tips page that could be helpful for some common errors/problems that you may encounter on submitting the roster.
If you have any FFA roster questions, please contact Tammy Yard – tyard@illinoisffa.org.
2. A FREE College Test Resource
Downstate Illinois students have long had thin prep options, and FreeTestPrep.com gives them 646 free drills with 3,230 original questions covering the SAT, ACT, and ten AP subjects, plus a full CLT practice test. I created the site, and I am the author of Barron's SAT, ACT, and PSAT study guides.
Brian Stewart
Author, Barron's SAT, ACT, and PSAT study guides
freetestprep.com
3. Summer Pharmacy Institute (SPI) 2027
UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy Summer Pharmacy Institute (SPI) 2027! Please feel free to share the attached flyer with any students who may be interested.
SPI is a four-day hands-on experience held at our Rockford campus (1601 Parkview Ave., Rockford, IL) for undergraduate students interested in exploring pharmacy careers. Focus areas include Hospital, Ambulatory Care, Industry/Research & Development, Community, Rural Healthcare, and Professionalism.
Eligibility:
Current undergraduate students who have not been admitted to or are not currently applying to a PharmD program
Students who have completed their undergraduate degree but have not been admitted to or are not currently applying to a PharmD program
Biology, chemistry, and/or anatomy & physiology coursework is highly recommended
4. Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership
The Andrew Carnegie Foundation and Ashoka have launched the Carnegie Challenge for Civic Leadership, inviting young people ages 5-20 in the U.S., Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa to take action to solve problems in their communities. Whether launching a new idea or growing an existing project, young changemakers are invited to share how they are making a difference and inspiring others to get involved! Apply here.
Prize Package with TWO deadlines:
Nov. 17, 2026, at 11:59pm ET
Anyone applying with a NEW idea is guaranteed a $100 seed grant if all criteria are met.
January 31, 2027 at 11:59 ET
12 Winners will receive $500
10 Finalists will each receive $1,000
2 Grand Prize Winners will each receive $10,000
Anyone receiving a grant of $500 or above will be considered for an in-person convening in the U.S. during the week of July 12, 2027.
For any questions or to schedule a short information session for your class or community, contact civicleadershipchallenge@ashoka.org or text (571) 622-1066.
Thank you for helping young people discover opportunities to become civic leaders and make a difference in their community!
Yours in changemaking,
Ashoka’s Carnegie Challenge Team
Tara Mott - Ashoka Youth Years | Operations Consultant
www.ashoka.org | www.changemakers.com
5. $7,500 for Your Automotive Program
For the fourth year, PERC (Propane Education & Research Council) is helping automotive programs prepare students for the propane autogas jobs already waiting in fleets and service shops nationwide. Approved schools receive $7,500 in grant support:
A propane autogas training aid worth more than $5,000 — a scale vehicle frame built for hands-on teaching
$2,500 toward instructor travel for the required Train the Trainer class and curriculum marketing
The grant adds Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection: Introduction for Automobile Service Technicians to your program, giving students standardized, real-world training employers value.
6. ISTA 2026 Conference - October 5, 2026
ISTA (Illinois Science Teaching Association)
2026 Conference: Igniting Curiosity: Cultivating Science Learners for a Lifetime
October 5, 2026
Remember, your registration fee includes a free membership for inservice teachers. If you are currently a member, your renewal date will be revised by one year. If you are not an active member - congratulations, now you will be apart of ISTA joining others across the state who want the best in science education for all of Illinois youth.
7. Message from IAVAT Member Services Committee
On behalf of the Member Services Committee of IAVAT, we would like to remind everyone about a few resources on www.ilaged.org
Click on the Teach tab in the top banner of ilaged.org
Then click About IAVAT
Scroll down the page that appears and look on the left-hand side of the page where it says "membership memos"
Membership memos
Whenever you or someone in the AgEd family have celebrations or need support, please complete the form linked on the website!
Underneath Membership memos is a section titled "IAVAT/NAAE Teacher Crisis Fund"
IAVAT/NAAE Teacher Crisis Fund
This section outlines what the crisis relief fund is designed for, who is eligible, where to apply and a place to donate.
We hope this reminder of these resources is beneficial to you should you ever need them!
Sincerely,
IAVAT Member Services Committee
8. John Deere FFA Days Final Registration
Only a few days left to sign up for the first-ever John Deere FFA Days at the John Deere site in Coal Valley, Illinois! Due to interest in this event, we are limiting registration to 6 students and 1 advisor/teacher/chaperone per chapter. This event will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd and Wednesday, November 4th, with the same content covered each day, meaning you should only register for one date.
For more information and to register, click here! Registration will remain open until Monday, September 28th or until we reach capacity.
Questions? Contact HendersonKelseyM@JohnDeere.com.
9. Request Your Nutrients for Life Fertilizer Fun Box!
Teachers! Don’t miss out—Nutrients for Life is giving away Fertilizer Fun Boxes ($600 value) filled with hands-on soil science activities for middle and high school classrooms.
Click here to sign up by September 30, 2026, to request yours!
PREVIOUS LISTSERVS - CLICK HERE to view the 2026 - 2027 School Year of Listserv messages