TOP Priority:  

• THIS YEAR ONLY - Illinois FFA State Offices are available for two dates in May for Banquets, the Illinois FFA Center is offering May 11 and May 20, 2021 as additional dates the officers are available to speak at FFA banquets.  Traditionally we do NOT allow officers out for banquets after May 1, but for THIS YEAR ONLY we are making an exception due to COVID pushing banquet back further in the Spring.  

• National Chapter Award deadline is midnight on Thursday, April 15, 2021, click here to view the listserv that included directions on how to submit the National Chapter Award application this year.  

• May 1, 2021 - ALL/FINAL membership must be received by this date

• NAAE Awards due this week - Click here to view more information about the 2021 NAAE Awards process. To be recognized and certified as the Illinois winner and finalist to move on to national judging, you must compile and send application materials to Lori Copsy (lcopsy@illinoisffa.org) by April 15, 2021.

• Update on 2021 Illinois FFA Leadership Camp - University Summer Camp Guidance Based on Phase 4 - There will be no overnight camps.  Therefore, 2021 Illinois FFA Leadership Camp is officially cancelled.  

Items in this listserv:

****NEW Information****

1. National Chapter Award Application Judging Workshop 

2. DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award

3. Culver’s Essay Contest Now Open

4. New Century Farmer Returns This Summer

5. Alumni Ranger Raffle                                                                                                                  

6. Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Registration - Due April 15th

7. 2021 Illinois Livestock Leadership Institute Announced

1.  National Chapter Award Workshop for Judges

If you are judging National Chapter Award applications or simply want to know more about the judging process join us Monday, April 19, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. for a workshop on National Chapter Award judging.  For those judging, this is a MUST DO, for everyone else, you are more than welcome.  

Buddy Haas,Central Burlington FFA Chapter,  will lead the workshop for National Chapter Award Judging, please note that all judging this year will take place in AET. Attending this workshop will be tremendously helpful in knowing how to not only use the scoring system in AET but also give you the opportunity to ask questions and increase your awareness of what things to look for in strong applications and potential red flags in an application.

Topic: National Chapter Award Judging Webinar

Time: Apr 19, 2021, 03:30 PM Central Time (the US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/94214216699?pwd=RUpvTXcwNTNlcjJVMVk3cHBBZElrUT09

Meeting ID: 942 1421 6699

Passcode: 383146

One tap mobile +13126266799, 94214216699# *383146

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/agN5DDC4d

2. DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award

The DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award is now accepting FFA advisor nominations of one deserving FFA member per chapter. Visit this link for more details.

3.  Culver’s Essay Contest Now Open

The Culver’s Essay Contest is now accepting student essays. Three winners will be chosen to receive funds for their chapters in the totals of $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500. Now in its seventh year, the contest allows students to demonstrate their passion for agricultural education. This year, students will also be able to submit videos for the contest. The deadline is April 19, 2021.

4.  New Century Farmer Returns This Summer

The New Century Farmer Conference is returning in person this summer! We will welcome all participants previously invited to attend in 2020. The conference will take place in Indianapolis with a comprehensive health and safety plan to keep all participants safe. We will share more details with invited participants soon. Currently, we do not plan to open applications for this summer’s conference. Interested members and alumni can sign up for notifications about the 2022 NCF conference.

5.  Alumni Ranger Raffle                                                                                                                  

The Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters Ranger Raffle will be held on June 10, 2021 during the Illinois FFA State Convention.  The tickets are 1 for $10, 3 for $25, or 20 for $100.  The FFA Chapter that sells the winning ranger raffle ticket will receive $300.  *** New this year the Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Council are awarding additional  dollars back to FFA chapters who sell tickets.  The council voted to draw two more tickets with the winning ticket and the two different chapters drawn who sold those additional tickets  will be awarded $250.00 per chapter while the chapter who sells the winning ticket continues to be awarded $300.00.  We hope this will provide additional incentive to sell Ranger Raffle tickets.  REMINDER:  All chapters still get %40 back on all tickets sold.  So this would be a great fundraiser for your chapter.  If you would like to buy tickets or for us to send you tickets to sell, please email pdavis@illinoisffa.org.  The money raised will support future Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters scholarships.  When sending raffle tickets/money to the IL FFA Alumni, please send by Priority Mail.

Contact-Free Sales - The FFA Chapter could promote buyers to pay by credit card (please include the 3% credit card fee), once we process the credit card then we will mail out the raffle ticket stub(s) to the buyer.  When they complete the credit card payment form for “Payment is For”, please put Alumni Raffle Tickets-”Your” Chapter Name. So we know which chapter gets the credit.  The FFA Chapters and/or Alumni will receive 40% of the total ticket sales back to be used for anything that you need (rebate checks will be issued as soon as tickets/money are processed).

6. Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Registration - Due April 15th

Applications will be accepted through April 15, 2021 in AET.

Written reports will be due May 1st. 

Interviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom May 11-13, 2021. 

For details regarding how to apply and all deadlines and details, please visit the Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Website. 

If you have questions, please contact Jennifer Waters at jwaters@ilaged.org. 

7.  2021 Illinois Livestock Leadership Institute Announced

Click here to view the press release about the  2021 Illinois Livestock Leadership Institute.  

CLICK HERE to view - **** PREVIOUS Information Shared - WORTH Sharing Again****

***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***

• April 15, 2021 -  2021 Illinois FFA State Convention Talent Application

• April 15, 2021 - 2021 Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Registration Due

• April 15, 2021 - National Chapter Award Application DUE

• April 15, 2021 - NAAE Award nominations due to state

• April 17, 2021 - Selection Committee Process Round 2

• May 1, 2021 - Chapter President Award Application DUE 

• May 1, 2021 - Chapter Reporter Award Application and Section Reporter Award Application

• May 1, 2021 - ALL/FINAL membership must be received by this date

• May 15, 2021 - Eldon Witt Scholarship Application DUE

• Click here to view a summary of spring virtual contests, registration deadlines, date and time of events, etc.