HEADS UP ITEMS:
HAPPY NATIONAL FFA WEEK!!!
Ag Legislative Day
SAVE the Date - Illinois FFA Day with the Cardinals vs. Cubs is Saturday, September 12, 2020 - more information later this Spring!
ILLINOIS FFA CENTER OFFICE CLOSED - March 6, 2020 - ½ Day - Employee Appreciation Lunch & Vision Planning Afternoon
National Chapter Award Application Tips & Tricks Webinar
Items in this listserv:
****NEW Information****
-
Illinois Corn Marketing Board Supports Your Local Chapter
-
2020 Illinois FFA Leadership Camp
-
Ed Curry Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Memorial Scholarship
-
Illinois Farm Bureau’s Top Chapter President program
-
Tractor Supply Company Grants for Growing
-
Next Level Livestock Camps: Swine Showmanship
-
Culver’s Essay Contest
-
Monsanto’s (now Bayer) America’s Farmers Grow America program
-
DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award
-
GROWMARK Youth Pollinator Program
-
Illinois Corn Marketing Boards Supports Your Local Chapter
The Illinois Corn Marketing Board is pledging donations to your local FFA chapter! Launching this week, a new program will trigger a $5 donation to any Illinois FFA chapter of a farmer’s choice when he or she anonymously submits a water test from their farm.
You are welcome to get involved as much or as little as you like, but we wanted to make you aware of the opportunity to increase funding to your FFA chapter by encouraging IL Corn Growers Association members to submit these water tests and choose your FFA from the list. The offer is being mailed only to ICGA members. If there are farmers in your area that wish to become members, they can do that on the IL Corn website as well.
If you have questions about this program, please submit them to Megan Dwyer at mdwyer@ilcorn.org.
-
2020 Illinois FFA Leadership Camp
Dates: Tuesday, July 21 - Friday, July 24, 2020
Registration Fee: $200; Registration Closes on Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Place - 4-H Memorial Camp, 499 Old Timber Rd., Monticello, IL 61856 (Map is located under Event Documents)
Registration Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 21st; Camp will end on Friday, July 24th at Noon. A camp t-shirt is included in the registration fee.
Registration is first-come/first serve. Please register all of your students by gender. We have 110 spots available for Males, and 185 spots available for Females. (These numbers could change once we have the new Section Presidents.)
Required Google Health Form and Signed Signature Form/Insurance Card: Every student attending camp must complete the Google Health Form and upload the signed signature form/front of the insurance card. Before beginning this form, please print the signature form and have the student and parent sign the form. After the form is completed, please place the front of the insurance card at the bottom of the signature form, and scan the form to your computer and save it as "Student's Last Name-First Name-FFA Chapter". This signed form/insurance card will need to be uploaded during the completion of the Google Health Form. If you do not have the insurance card at the time of completing the health form, please email a copy to Alexis Carroll at intern@illinoisffa.org, please be sure to write the name of the student/school on the copy of the insurance card. (Sample of the health questions and signature form are located under Event Documents.)
Hopper Funds - Please contact Tammy Yard at tyard@illinoisffa.org before registering to confirm the amount available to use towards the camp registration.
Alumni Scholarships/Chapter Basket Scholarships - Please contact Patti Davis at pdavis@illinoisffa.org before registering for camp so that she can add the scholarship amount to your account balance. Please note that the alumni application scholarship is non-transferable and you must contact Patti if that student is no longer attending camp so that we can send the alternate and remove the scholarship from your account balance. Please see the cancellation section below for information on canceling after the registration closes.
Cancellations after July 7, 2020 - If your camper is unable to attend leadership camp, please find a replacement of the same gender or utilize the Trading Post. Cancellations after the July 7, 2020 deadline or no-shows at camp then we will be invoicing the FFA Chapter for the full registration fee. This is the same cancellation policy for alumni scholarships.
Trading Post - Please utilize the Trading Post if you have students that are unable to attend after registration closes on July 7, 2020. Please replace the student with the same gender and the new student will need to complete the required Health Profile Google Form and upload the signed signature form/insurance card by July 17, 2020. Please note that Alumni Scholarships/Chapter Basket Scholarships cannot be sold on the Trading Post.
Documents - Documents for camp will be located under the Event Registration/Event Documents. The following are uploaded to Event Documents - a list of the health questions, a sample of a completed signature form/insurance card, map to camp, and Late Arrival/Early Dismissal form.
Submitted Registrations - Changes/Cancellations must be made by Tuesday, July 7, 2020, please contact pdavis@illinoisffa.org.
-
Ed Curry Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Memorial Scholarship
Ed Curry was a long-time ag teacher and FFA advisor from Section 1 whose passion was to find the best in everyone. He lived to make every moment count and to instill in his students that they were valued and they can make a difference. His passion for camp was infectious.
HE LOVED CAMP! Every part of it. He always loved a good challenge to try to have someone attend who was unsure about stepping outside of their comfort zone. Mr. Curry was an FFA advisor, who taught with kindness, compassion, and inclusion. He volunteered his time as a staff member of the Illinois FFA Leadership Camp for every year, beginning in 2006. Camp was a place where Mr. Curry was able to become a trusted mentor, advisor, and friend to many more students than he had in his chapter or section. He was always willing to lend an ear to listen or give advice and direction to anyone who sought him out. He was a great friend to not only the FFA members attending camp but also to the other camp staff and the FFA Center staff, as well. Mr. Curry used his time at camp to impact as many members as he could.
To honor his work and life, camp scholarship(s) in the amount of $200.00 will be awarded to attend Illinois FFA State Leadership Camp in Monticello.
Please click here to complete the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship. Applications are due by April 15, 2020. Once the students completes the application the FFA Advisor must complete and submit a letter of recommendation stating why you think your student should be a recipient of the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship via email to intern@illinoisffa.org by May 1, 2020, for their FFA member who submits an application for the Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship.
Applicants and teachers will be notified by mid-May.
-
Illinois Farm Bureau’s Top Chapter President program
Applications for Illinois Farm Bureau’s Top Chapter President program are now live. Application instructions can be found on the first page of the application, and program details are attached. Please visit http://form.jotform.com/200076559576160 to get started.
Chapter President applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on May 1, 2020.
Click here for more information.
If you have any questions, contact Kaity Spangler.
Kaity Spangler | MSPR Program Specialist
Illinois Farm Bureau
309-557-3375 | kspangler@ilfb.org
-
Tractor Supply Company Grants for Growing
The National FFA Organization is pleased to announce once again the Tractor Supply Company; Grants for Growing program. Tractor Supply Company (TSC) is again looking forward to partnering with local FFA chapters during National FFA Week in February to help promote ag education, FFA, and the sale of $1 paper emblems at TSC store checkouts. The money raised through this promotion by TSC will be made available for minimum $500 grants that ANY local FFA chapter can apply for. The fundraising period runs from February 19-March 1. All FFA chapters are eligible to apply. BEING LOCATED NEAR A TSC STORE IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT. Find the grant application and more information at: https://www.ffa.org/grantsforgrowing.
Chapters are encouraged to reach out to TSC stores in their area to learn more about partnering during National FFA Week and how they can promote the fundraising week which in turn boosts available grant funds. See the attached PDF for more information. Please note that TSC locations in Hawaii are under the Del’s Feed & Farm Supply name with locations in Hilo and Kahului.
The grant application will open March 2nd and applications will be due May 1, 2020.
The National FFA Organization and Tractor Supply Company are excited to announce the return of the successful Grants for Growing Program. In 2019, more than $970,120 was raised for FFA and grants were awarded to 259 chapters. This competitive grant program provides funding to FFA chapters to create project-based or experiential learning opportunities for students. FFA chapters can apply for up to $5,000 to fund these efforts. Tractor Supply Company is proud to support local agriculture education programs who want to grow their classroom, grow their chapter, or grow their ag awareness.
-
Next Level Livestock Camps: Swine Showmanship
April 4th & 5th - Afton, Iowa - The Union County Fairgrounds
Click here for more information.
Kaley Bontrager | Chief Operating Officer - 765.586.5603
www.NextLevelLivestockCamps.com
-
Culver’s Essay Contest
The Culver’s Essay Contest is back. FFA members are encouraged to write an essay based on the prompt on their website to win up to $7,500 to offset the cost of a chapter’s travel expenses to the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo this October in Indianapolis. Full information and the essay prompt are at: https://www.culvers.com/essaycontest. Entries are due April 20, 2020. Location and proximity to a Culver’s restaurant location is NOT a determining factor in this contest.
-
Monsanto’s (now Bayer) America’s Farmers Grow America program
Monsanto’s (now Bayer) America’s Farmers Grow America program is once again accepting farmer nominations to provide grants of $10,000 to $25,000 to local schools and/or ag programs. Ag producers over 21 years of age and actively farming/ranching/producing on 250 or more acres are eligible to submit nominations. The more nominations a school receives from eligible farmers, the better the chances of the school being funded. Find full information at: https://www.americasfarmers.com/grow-rural-education/. Nominations are due April 1, 2020.
-
DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award
Once again, Bayer (formerly Monsanto) is sponsoring the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award. Now in its 73rd year, the DEKALB award recognizes one student per FFA chapter for their scholarship, commitment, and work ethic. Chapter advisors are encouraged to identify a student this spring for their chapter’s annual award.
Bayer will provide a pin and certificate for each chapter’s nominated student. Please allow at least 15 business days for processing and shipping after submitting the online nomination.
Find the online nomination form and more information at: https://www.dekalbasgrowdeltapine.com/en-us/dekalb/performance/ag-accomplishment.html
-
GROWMARK Youth Pollinator Program
GROWMARK is offering their youth pollinator program again to FFA, 4-H, and Ag in the Classroom groups in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Groups that sign up are asked to find approximately 700 square feet in a visible location (fairgrounds, park, school, etc…) and get permission to plant a pollinator plot in that area BEFORE signing up. Groups will receive seed to plant that size garden, plus educational signage about the pollination process. They are asked to attend to the garden and send pictures back to them of the progress. They will receive additional seed in the spring of 2021 to overseed and help establish the garden.
Please click here to view the press release that has more information.
**** PREVIOUS Information Shared****
**** WORTH Sharing Again****
CONVENTION Information:
Registration for the 92nd Annual Illinois FFA Convention is NOW OPEN
FREE Registration for All FFA Advisors - Country Financial
FREE Registration for ALL Delegates
Cargill to Sponsor the Building Communities Award
NEW Convention Schedule
BAND, CHORUS and TALENT Applications for State FFA Convention
92nd Annual Illinois FFA Convention Day of Service Project
Honorary Illinois FFA State Degree - Awarded at Illinois FFA State Convention
Illinois FFA Convention - 1st Business Session - Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Farm Credit News Room
Courtesy Corps
Scrapbook
IAVAT:
Membership Memos
Hello Region IV Agriculture Teachers!
BENEFIT for Sarah Morgan - Click here to view the flyer
2020 - 2021 Illinois FFA CDE Schedule
CDE Registration
IACCAI:
-
Officers - Jeff Landers, JJC - President, Brian Clement, College of Dupage - Vice President, Doug Robb, WVCC - Treasurer, Jess Smithers, Richland - Secretary, Pete Fandel, ICC - Past President
-
2020 Conference = October 8-9, 2020 in Joliet
PAS:
-
Recent name change from Post-Secondary Ag Students to Professional Ag Students
-
Officers - President - Gwen Heimerdinger, 1st Vice-President - Ryan Reeverts, 2nd Vice-President - Rob Janssen, 3rd Vice-President - Mazi Walker
Illinois FFA:
National Chapter Award Application Tips & Tricks Webinar
National Chapter Award (NCA) Judges Needed
National Chapter Award (NCA) Judges Webinars
-
Round 1 NCA Judging webinar is set for Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
-
Round 2 NCA Judging webinar is set for Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
Illinois Farm Bureau & Affiliate Companies Premier Chapter Award Trip
Application for Illinois FFA Major State Officer - DUE March 1, 2020
January 2020 Newsletter
Illinois FFA Convention - 1st Business Session - Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Selection Committee - Students NEEDED!
EZ Records Update - Shutdown is 1st week in April 2020
Sam Taylor Scholarship Application - DUE March 1
Eldon Witt Scholarship Application - DUE May 15
Discovery Star Application - Common Questions and Answers
State FFA Degree and Proficiency Information FOR ILLINOIS ONLY
-
Please move firefighters to Safety
-
Lifeguarding will be allowed in Safety this year.
-
DO NOT start ANY freshmen year students with ANY records in lifeguarding.
Illinois FFA Board Updates
Honorary State Degree Applications - DUE April 1
Winter 2019 Illinois FFA Newsletter
Fall 2019 Illinois FFA Newsletter
Trading Post for 2019 - 2020
Lock Box Practicums and Activities
FFA Board August Updates
Heritage and Cooperative Awards replaced with National Chapter Award Results
2020 Illinois FFA State Convention Hotel Block Open
Illinois FFA Alumni:
Illinois FFA Alumni Annual Meeting & Auction Update
212 and WLC Scholarship Winners
Illinois FFA Alumni Auction - Chapter Baskets
4th Annual Illinois FFA Alumni Gun Raffle
Illinois FFA Center:
Interns for Summer 2020 & Bill Johnson Legislative Intern
Registering for Events
Office Closings:
-
March 6, 2020 - ½ Day - Employee Appreciation Lunch & Vision Planning Afternoon
-
Friday, April 10, 2020 - Good Friday
-
Monday, May 25, 2020 - Memorial Day
Illinois Foundation FFA:
Illinois Foundation FFA February 14, 2020 Update
Illinois Foundation FFA January 28, 2020 Update
Illinois Foundation FFA January Update
Illinois Foundation FFA December Update
Illinois Foundation FFA November Update
2019 - 2020 Local Collection Drive Kickoff Listserv
2018 - 2019 Illinois Foundation FFA Report
Industry Friends of agricultural education posts:
Spellman High Voltage Electronics Clean Tech Competition
Nutrien Sustainable Agriculture Youth Trip
Illinois Pork Producers Scholarships
2020 GROWMARK Essay Contest Results
Illinois State Florists' Association Student Design Contest
The Gathering of the Green invites Illinois FFA Chapters and members!
1st annual High School Senior Welding Competition
DeKalb, Asgrow, Deltapine Scholarship
Illinois Conservation Foundation - 2020 Conservation Achievement Scholarships
AGCO Scholarships
National FFA:
National FFA Updates
-
The National FFA Organization is pleased to announce once again the Tractor Supply Company; Grants for Growing. Tractor Supply Company (TSC) is again looking forward to partnering with local FFA chapters during National FFA Week in February to help promote ag education, FFA, and the sale of $1 paper emblems at TSC store checkouts. The money raised through this promotion by TSC will be made available for minimum $500 grants that ANY local FFA chapter can apply for. The grant application will open for a two month period of March 2nd through May 1st. This is a new timeline. All FFA chapters are eligible to apply. BEING LOCATED NEAR A TSC STORE IS NOT REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT. Find the grant application and more information at: https://www.ffa.org/grants-for-growing/.
-
Please be sure that your American Degree applications are reviewed using this manual checksheet: https://ffa.box.com/s/s1wtq7xitcldu50sttkgsdsli2f6m8a8. This checksheet IS NOT a part of, or a substitute for the automated met/not-met process. If your state uses a committee review process or panel of teachers for review, please make sure they have this checksheet on hand as they review applications.
-
The National Agriscience Teacher Ambassador Academy is now accepting applications for the 2020 academy July 13-17 in Tulsa, OK. This is a highly competitive, paid for professional development experience that past participants note as having significantly altered their teaching style and methodology in very positive ways. The academy focuses on interactive, hands-on application based agriscience professional development. The week of training includes lab activities using inquiry-based pedagogy. Previous attendees are listed by state at: https://www.naae.org/profdevelopment/nataa_ambassadors.cfm and may be an excellent source to ask questions and learn more about the academy if you are interested. The application is due February 3rd and can be found at: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3725707/2020NATAA.
***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***
-
February 22 - 29 - National FFA Week
-
February 24-28 - Chapter Visits - Click here to open the Chapter Visits Evaluation
-
March 1 - American FFA Degree Applications DUE - Click here for more info
-
March 1 - Sam Taylor Scholarship Application DUE
-
March 2 - Alumni Camp Scholarships DUE
-
March 2 - Ag Legislative Seminar, Springfield
-
March 3 - Ag Legislative Day, Springfield
-
March 4 - District Proficiency Awards
-
March 6-8 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting, Springfield
-
March 7 - State Food/Vet Science CDEs
-
March 9 - 10 - State Review of American and State FFA Degree Applications
-
March 10 - National Chapter Award webinar
-
March 13 - Judges Submitted from all District Winners for State Awards Day
-
March 13-14 - Alumni Council Meeting, FFA Center - Springfield
-
March 15 - Selection Committee Application DUE
-
March 20 - FFA State Officer Team Meeting
-
March 20 - Mandatory Dairy Cattle & Handlers registration deadline
-
March 21 - State Proficiency Awards Day, UIUC - Urbana
-
April 1 - Honorary State FFA Degree Application DUE
-
April 3 - State Dairy Cattle and Dairy Cattle Handlers CDE
-
April 6 - 8 - American FFA Degree Interviews, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield
-
April 9 - Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Meeting
-
April 10 - FFA Center Closed - Good Friday
-
April 10 - Livestock Reasons & Horticulture Mandatory Registration DUE
-
April 10 - Livestock Non-reasons & Poultry Early Bird Registration CLOSES
-
April 13 - Administrative Council Meeting, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield
-
April 15 - National Chapter Award Application DUE - ONLINE
-
April 15 - State Convention Band Application DUE
-
April 15 - State Convention Chorus Application DUE
-
April 15 - State Convention Talent Application DUE
-
April 17 - 20 - Round 1 of National Chapter Award Judging
-
April 18 - Major State Officer Selection Committee - Springfield
-
April 21 - Illinois FFA Board Meeting, Illinois FFA Center - Springfield
-
April 23 - 30 - Round 2 of National Chapter Award Judging
-
April 24 - Super Friday - State Livestock, Poultry & Horticulture CDEs
-
April 28 - Section Ag Mech results DUE to register for State Ag Mech
-
May 1 - Chapter President Award Application DUE
-
May 1 - Chapter and Section Reporter Award Application DUE
-
May 6 - State Ag Business Management CDE
-
May 12 - State Ag Mechanics CDE
-
May 15 - Eldon Witt Scholarship DUE
-
May 15 - State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE
-
May 15 - State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom Application DUE
-
May 26 - 27 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting
-
May 31 - Chapter Scrapbook Intent to Compete at State Convention
-
June 1 - State Ag Issues Materials DUE
-
June 1 - State Prepared Public Speaking Manuscripts DUE via email
-
June 1 - State Job Interview Materials DUE
-
June 8 - State Ag Issues, Parliamentary Procedure, Conduct of Chapter Meeting and Ag Communications CDE/LDEs, Springfield
-
June 9 - State Ag Communications, Public Speakings, Job Interview CDE/LDEs
-
June 9 - 11 - 92nd Annual Illinois FFA State Convention, Springfield
-
June 11-12 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting, Springfield
-
June 15 - IAVAT Board Meeting & Section Chairs Meeting
-
June 16 - 18 - IAVAT Conference
-
June 18 - 19 - State FFA Officer Team Meeting, Decatur
-
June 21 - 26 - Legacy Tour (Formerly the Heritage & COOP Tour)
-
July 3 - FFA Center Closed - 4th of July HOLIDAY
--
Mindy Bunselmeyer
Illinois FFA Center
Phone: 217-753-3328 Cell: 217-412-5646
Email: mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org
Address: 3221 Northfield, Springfield, IL 62702