Dear Friends and Members of the Illinois FFA and Ag Ed Family,

Please note it is with great deliberation and discussion the Illinois FFA Board and IAVAT Board have decided the following measures to help ensure the safety and well being of our members, as well as still allow them the opportunity to continue to participate in FFA events.  

• Illinois FFA State Awards Day is postponed indefinitely.  The board will revisit the topic by April 10, 2020 , to determine the next course of action.  It is highly possible that proficiency judging could be moved to an online system. Again, this topic will be revisited and more information will be forthcoming.  

• All District and State level events are postponed until after April 10, 2020 including State Dairy Cattle & Handlers.

• Registration has been closed for State Dairy Cattle & Handlers and full refunds will be processed for all submitted registrations.

• Please continue registering for all future events as usual. Refunds will be processed for any event that is cancelled.

• Section advisors should continue to monitor events at the local level and make their decision based on those local factors and what is taking place with all schools in their section, though it is highly encouraged that Sections follow FFA and IAVAT Board policy put into place to postpone until after April 10, 2020.  

• For any local events that continue please be on a no handshake policy and remind all involved to wash hands AND stay home if they are not feeling well.  

• For 2020 all Illinois American FFA Degree candidate interviews will be eliminated with the exception of the members the committee has determined to be Star level competitive. Those members and advisors will be notified of Star potential interviews on Friday, March 20, 2020.  The dates for Star interviews will remain April 6 - 8, 2020 and will be conducted via Skype/Facetime/Webinar. No face to face interviews will take place for the American FFA Degree Star candidates.  

• The Illinois FFA Center staff will continue to monitor local conditions and if/when necessary will work remotely.  

• The Illinois FFA Center staff will also continue to monitor and communicate with the State FFA Officers and their families on their travel status, as well as what is taking place at FFA chapters throughout the state.  More information will be forthcoming. 

• For any events that continue our officers will be on a no handshake policy as well.

• Now more than ever, please be diligent in checking, reading and reviewing listserv messages as often times information can and will change quickly, as well as anything that is currently planned no matter how far down the timeline can be influenced by these decisions today.  

• We will continue to monitor and communicate with all boards and parties involved in these events and decisions, as well as review information posted by the Department of Health, Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization.  

• Click here for a great link to the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago issuing new guidance to residents to prevent further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Once again, thank you for your patience and understanding during this time of uncertainty.