TOP Priority:  

• 2021 IAVAT Service Award Recipients Announced. Please review the list of Service Awards and notify Lori Copsy (lcopsy@illinoisffa.org) of any discrepancies.  

• THIS YEAR ONLY - Illinois FFA State Officers 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 banquets back further in the Spring.  

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

• NEWS - Coming next week...information about the 2021 State Invitational Virtual Greenhand Quizbowl...so dust off those buzzers, find that test bank of questions and get those Greenhands ready!

• NOTICE - the Illinois FFA Center will be CLOSED, Monday, April 26, 2021 as the officers and staff will be working on site logistics at convention locations.  

Items in this listserv:

****NEW Information****

1. 2021 National FFA CDE/LDE Representation

2. AET SAE Symposium Online Offering

3. FCC Announces New Outreach to Collect Consumer Broadband Availability Experiences 

4. Culver’s Scoops of Thanks Set for May 6

5. Yearlong Living to Serve Grant Application Opens April 15

6. Spring Forward Green Career Fair- April 20th from 5:00-7:00pm

1.  2021 National FFA CDE/LDE Representation

Many of you have been curious about who/what teams/individuals will represent Illinois FFA at the 2021 National FFA CDE/LDEs, this is a decision the FFA board has been forwarding the next meeting for a while now, basically wanting to make sure we all as much information as possible before making a decision.  

A decision basically using the following criteria:

• If both formats (meaning both 2019/20 and 2020/21 contests) were presented in the same way, the most recent (20/21) winning team goes.

• If the events were in person and virtual.  The In person (19/20) team gets to go.

• If the 19-20 team has already competed (Forestry and Horse) then the 20-21 team will be representing us.

• If the first preference team defers then we offer it to second preferenced team.  For example: if the 19/20 year is the team that has earned the right to go, but they defer, then the 1st place team of the 20/21 contest will get preference to go.   (preferrenced team is by the year, not the placing of teams).  If it is a team that defers, it will go to the first place of the other year, if they defer, then it will be the second place of the first year, then the second place of the opposite year, and continuing until a team attends.

• If it is an event that we have a first/second place being sent to two different events, then each first place team will have an option to attend. 

Click here to view the list of who will be representing Illinois FFA at the 2021 National FFA Convention.  Click here to view the 2021 National FFA CDE/LDE Status Tracker. 

2.  AET SAE Symposium Online Offering

Tracking Experiential Learning Projects, Tips for Managing Your Ag Education Program, Sharing Program Value & Helping Students Achieve FFA Award Success!

Host: Vanessa Kirby, AET Online Support Specialist

Focus: This workshop series will use SAE case studies to help share potential tracking of student experiences in your program and tips to improve FFA award success. Case studies will be shared following the schedule below and direct SAE feedback will be given on each study as an SAE Assessment to ensure the understanding of each study. These are suggested due dates; all Zoom

Meetings will be RECORDED. Zoom links will be provided to those that register.

All resources will be shared via email.

Click here to view the flyer and descriptions of the professional development sessions.  

3. FCC Announces New Outreach to Collect Consumer Broadband Availability Experiences 

Seeks Input from Consumers to Share Stories About Disparities in Access to Broadband to Inform Broadband Data Collection

  --

WASHINGTON, March 22, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission today announced it will begin collecting first-hand accounts on broadband availability and service quality directly from consumers as part of its Broadband Data Collection program.  A new webpage, www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData, explains the FCC’s program and provides direct links to consumer resources including a new “share your broadband experience” option.

As the Commission develops the tools needed to enhance the accuracy of its existing broadband maps, this new form provides a way for consumers to share their broadband experiences.  Stories shared by consumers will help to inform the work of the FCC’s cross-agency Broadband Data Task Force. 

“Far too many Americans are left behind in access to jobs, education, and healthcare if they do not have access to broadband,” said Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.  “Collecting data from consumers who are directly affected by the lack of access to broadband will help inform the FCC’s mapping efforts and future decisions about where service is needed.”

In addition to enabling consumers to share their experiences, the new web page will serve as an informational hub for the Broadband Data Collection program, highlighting milestones and providing updates for consumers, state, local, and Tribal government entities, and other industry stakeholders.  The page contains links to reports and educational materials, as well as FCC releases related to the program.  Once launched, information about the new Broadband Data Collection reporting systems will also be posted to the page.

4.  Culver’s Scoops of Thanks Set for May 6

Save the date for Culver’s Scoops of Thanks. On May 6 visit your local Culver’s and purchase a single scoop of custard for $1. All proceeds from this fundraiser supports local agricultural education programs.

5.  Yearlong Living to Serve Grant Application Opens April 15

Starting April 15, the Yearlong Living to Serve Grant will be available. This grant provides middle/high school FFA chapters with up to $3,000 to support a service-learning project that spans an entire school year. The application is due June 15.

6.  Spring Forward Green Career Fair- April 20th from 5:00-7:00pm

The Gary Comer Youth Center and the Gary Comer FFA Chapter invite you and your class to GCYC's Spring Forward Green Career Fair taking place April 20th, 2021 from 5:00-7:00pm. This event prepares young people to be stewards of the earth through conversations with business, community, educational, and entrepreneurial leaders. By coming together and sharing ideas about today’s environmental issues, participants will learn, grow and drive the change they want to see. 

This virtual event will feature a diverse group of professionals, both early and late in their careers, in a wide array of industries, including scientists, engineers, farmers, doctors, business owners, activists, and more. This virtual career fair will have space for young people to learn more about these careers and how their own future careers could impact our earth and their communities.

This event is free, and registration is now open. All students are invited to join this event. Students can register using this link:  https://www.comereducationcampus.org/forms/spring-forward-youth-registration

Please direct any questions to Amanda Anderson at aanderson@gcychome.org

Thank you!

Amanda Anderson

Urban Agriculture Instructor

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

***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***

• 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

• May 28, 2021 - Illinois FFA State Convention Business Session via Zoom 

• May 31, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Memorial Day HOLIDAY

• June 1, 2021 - District 1 & 2 Illinois FFA State Convention - Cornbelters Stadium, Normal, IL

• June 4, 2021 - District 5 Illinois FFA State Convention - Saluki Stadium, Carbondale, IL

• June 8, 2021 - 93rd Annual Illinois FFA State Convention, Illinois State Fairgrounds Grandstand, Springfield, IL

• June 9, 2021 - District 3 & 4 Illinois FFA State Convention, Illinois State Fairgrounds Grandstand, Springfield, IL

• June 10, 2021 - 93rd Annual Illinois FFA State Convention, Illinois State Fairgrounds Grandstand, Springfield, IL

• June 15 - 17, 2021 - IAVAT Conference, SUIC, Carbondale, IL, also virtual option

• June 28 - 29, 2021 - 2nd Year Ag Teacher Conference

• July 5 - FFA Center CLOSED - 4th of July HOLIDAY

• July 12 - 16, 2021 - July Illinois FFA State Officer Team Meeting, Carbondale, IL

• July 27 - 28, 2021 - Beginning Advisors Conference

• August 12 - 22, 2021 - Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL

• August 31 - September 2, 2021 - Farm Progress Show, Decatur, IL

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