Sending this message on behalf of ILCAE officers: Doug Hanson, Chair; Allyn Buhrow, Vice-Chair; and Karen Jones, Secretary.  All individuals that have an interest in improving and expanding agricultural education are invited to attend this ILCAE Meeting.   

ILCAE Meeting Date:  Wednesday, January 8, 2020
12 pm - Lunch     4 pm - Adjourn
   
Click to RSVP             Click for draft November Meeting minutes.

Location:  IAA Building(IL Farm Bureau), 1701 Towanda Ave., Bloomington, IL 61701

The time and location have been changed as the Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Ag Legislative Roundtable will be held from 9 am - 12 noon on the same day and at the same location. If you would like to attend, please reply to Dean from this email message.

The Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE) is governed by a 30 member board of directors who represent and serve as a link between the agricultural industry and agricultural education.  ILCAE is an advocacy group focused on legislation, funding, and promotion of agricultural education and serves as an advisory council for the initiatives of the Agricultural Education line item.  ILCAE is responsible for the vision of Agricultural Education thru the Illinois Agricultural Education Plan.

The Illinois Leadership Council for Agricultural Education (ILCAE) was formed in 1984 as a result of a grassroots movement by the Illinois agriculture industry to recognize that agriculture is central to the welfare and economic stability of the state and requires a continued source of trained and qualified individuals for employment in agriculture. 

The efforts of ILCAE led to legislation by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986 (Public Act 84-1452) which amended the Illinois School Code to provide greater emphasis on Agricultural Education and resulted in the following:

1. The establishment of the Governor-appointed Illinois Committee for Agricultural Education (ICAE).

2. Implementation of the "Building Illinois Through Quality Agricultural Education” strategic plan. 

3. Establishment of the Agricultural Education line item in the ISBE agency budget to allow for the implementation of the strategic plan, establishment of the Incentive Funding Grants for local districts to assist in local program implementation, and the establishment of Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education (FCAE) initiative. 

In 1987, the first agricultural education line item within the Illinois State Board of Education budget was approved at $48,500.  When the line item was increased to $1,000,000 in 1989, the Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education Project (FCAE) was established to assist in the coordination of improvement and expansion efforts in agricultural education.  The current funding level for the agricultural education line item is $5,000,000.



2019 Annual Award Winners  (left to right)   click for more photos.  Click for Press Release
Andy Manar, Norine Hammond, Tami Craig Schilling, Jane Quinlan, Rod Stoll, Melissa Lamczyk, Steve Bridge.

Bill Johnson Excellence in Education
    -Jane Quinlan, Board Member, Illinois State Board of Education

Excellence in Agribusiness
     -Rod Stoll, VP-Marketplace Engagement, Farm Credit Illinois                     
     -Tami Craig Schilling, Agronomy Knowledge Transfer Lead, Bayer Crop Science

Excellence in Media
      -Steve Bridge, Agribusiness Director, WFMB Radio

Jim Guilinger Legislative
       -State Senator Andy Manar-48th District
       -State Senator Dave Syverson-35th District                                                           
       -Representative Nathan Reitz-116th District
       -Representative Norine Hammond-93rd District

Perry Schneider Special Recognition
        -Melissa Lamczyk, Coordinator, Franklin County Ag In The Classroom