*******TOP PRIORITY*******

REMINDER:  

National Chapter Award  Application Submission 

• Click here to submit your 2019 - 2020 National Chapter Award Application.  MUST BE submitted by midnight on May 1, 2020.

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.

JUDGES NEEDED for - National Chapter Award Application Judging

• Please CLICK HERE to sign up for National Chapter Award judging, we have new dates for application judging, so EVEN IF YOU SIGNED UP BEFORE we need you to sign up AGAIN.  We need you to sign up again to confirm the dates will work for you AND you feel as though you have the time and the internet capabilities to properly judge.  PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME if you signed up the first time we will send you judging information, we will ONLY send judging information to those who sign up on the NEW form.  

• PLEASE sign up NO LATER than April 30, 2020.  

• Round 1 judging will take place online beginning May 6, 2020 and is to be completed by May 10, 2020.  

• In order to assist all judges in both Round 1 and Round 2 judging, we have planned two webinars to assist all judges.  

• Round 1 NCA Judging webinar is set for Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. 

• Round 2 NCA Judging webinar is set for Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. 

• This webinar is a MUST for all those who will be judging both Round 1 and Round 2 National Chapter Award applications.  Buddy Haas will be leading the webinar, will address your questions and walk you through the process of judging National Chapter Award applications.  

• Dial-in number: (712) 451-0000

• Access code: 825723 PIN

• Online meeting ID: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/mbunselmeyer

• Instructions:  At the scheduled date and time of the meeting, join the online meeting, click on the meeting link listed above and follow the prompts to join the meeting.  For audio, either use computer audio or dial into the conference line. When prompted, enter the Access Code followed by the pound key.  

• The webinar will also be posted on the channel where all webinars/videos are posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JonvZvejCv8

• Round 2 judging will also take place online and begins on May 13, 2020 and is to be completed by May 20, 2020.  

• Once all National Chapter Award applications are collected, judges will be provided customized Google sheets to evaluate submissions (Series of Yes/No questions evaluating full applications of ~10 programs).  

• After Round 1 judging is concluded, advancing applications will be added to customized Round 2 Google score sheets where judges will evaluate a single activity on every advancing application.

IAVAT Board Updates - NEW UPDATES 

• NAAE Awards Available at NAAE.org

  Submit apps to lnelson@illinoisffa.org by May 1, 2020

CDES 

• 2020 Dairy Handlers - CANCELLED

  • The 2019 2nd place individual will be invited to represent Illinois FFA at the National FFA Convention.  

• 2020 Livestock and Dairy CDEs

  • All reasons divisions have been eliminated for 2020.

• Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Horticulture, Ag Business, Ag Comm, Job Interview CDEs

  • The host sites will be contacted to see if they are able to create a virtual contest to let the IAVAT Board know by April 22, 2020.

  • More information on these events is still under review and is forthcoming.

• Ag Issues CDE MOVED toFall 2020

  • Actual date, site and more information is TBD.  

• 2020 State Ag Mech CDE  - CANCELLED

  • The 2019 2nd place State Ag Mech Team will be invited to represent Illinois FFA at the National FFA Convention.  

  • NO State Chat THIS week, due to Proficiency Judging/Interviews **

  •  Ag Ed/FFA State Chats

• Join us for a Chat on Thursday, April 30, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. 

• Webinar information:

• Dial-in number: (712) 451-0000

• Access code: 825723 PIN

• Online meeting ID: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/mbunselmeyer

• Q & A with State Staff

  • Please click here to view the answers to many of the questions submitted

Illinois FFA Center Hours & Updates - NO CHANGE 

• The Illinois FFA Center is currently closed through Thursday, April 30, 2020, by Executive Order of the Governor.  FFA Center staff will be working remotely as time and technology allow. Thank you for your patience in our delayed response.

Items in this listserv:

****NEW Information****

1. Virtual Contest Opportunities

2. Illinois Foundation FFA April Update

1.  Virtual Contest Opportunities

Please see opportunities below regarding virtual contest opportunities your chapter could take part in during remote learning days. None of these events are officially sanctioned or governed by Illinois FFA or IAVAT, though promoted to provide opportunities for our members during this time.

Liberty Invitational Poultry Contest

Registration and information can be found at these links:

https://www.judgingcard.com/registration/Register.aspx?ID=64780&EID=0&IID=7313&CID=11242

Registration is open and will close on April 26th.  

Entry fee is $3.00 per contestant.

All registration and collection of fees will be completed through judging card.com

The event includes interior egg grading (10), exterior quality grading with written factors (10), carcass grading (10), ready to cook carcass judging class, part identification (10), boneless(5)  and bone-in (5) further processed poultry meat products and a written exam (25). () indicates number to graded or judged.  National and Illinois rules will be followed.

The event will be completely online and can be completed April 22 through April 27.

Open to all teams and individuals from across the USA!

Teams will consist of the top 4 scores from a chapter.

Prizes will be gift cards for the top teams and individuals. 

(the number and amounts will be based on participation)  

Contact: Steve Buyck  (buycks@libertyschool.net)

South Dakota Invitational Events

https://www.judgingcard.com/Registration/Info.aspx?ID=11218 - Registration due 4-23-20

Online Dairy Cattle Contest

Online Farm Mgmt Contest

Online Food Science Contest

Online Horse Contest 

Online Livestock Contest

Online Meat Contest 

Online Natural Resources Contest

Online Nursery/Landscape Contest

Online Poultry Contest

Online Vet Science Contest

2. Illinois Foundation FFA April Update

Illinois Foundation FFA is exceptionally grateful for ALL of the efforts of the Local Collection Drive!

(NEW Figures as of April 6, 2020)

• Local Collection Drive =$312,408.50

• State at Large = $ 35,778.73 

• Total =$348,187.23

• Sponsorship  = $214,657.00

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your interest and support the 2019 - 2020 Collection Drive.  We appreciate your time and dedication to this very important task. Our goal for this year's collection drive is $325,000 - WE ARE GETTING CLOSER - thanks to you and all of your efforts. With your help, we can obtain this goal to provide countless opportunities to over 19,000 Illinois FFA Members. 

**** PREVIOUS Information Shared****

**** WORTH Sharing Again****

CONVENTION Information:

FFA Convention Theme Video Call to Assist 

• CLICK HERE to submit your video 

Registration for the 92nd Annual Illinois FFA Convention is NOW OPEN 

• Register for State Convention just like any other event by going to the www.ilaged.org website.  

FREE Registration for All FFA Advisors - Country Financial 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

FREE Registration for ALL Delegates  - CHS and Dakota Access Pipeline

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Cargill to Sponsor the Building Communities Award

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

NEW Convention Schedule

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

BAND, DRUMLINE, CHORUS and TALENT Applications for State FFA Convention

• April 15 - State Convention Band Application DUE

• April 15 - State Convention Chorus Application DUE

• April 15 - State Convention Talent Application DUE

• April 15 - State Convention Drumline Application DUE

92nd Annual Illinois FFA Convention Day of Service Project

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Honorary Illinois FFA State Degree - Awarded at Illinois FFA State Convention 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Illinois FFA Convention - 1st Business Session - Proposed Constitutional Amendment

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.

Farm Credit News Room

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Courtesy Corps

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Scrapbook 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

IAVAT:

Golden Owl Certificate Design Contest

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center

Membership Memos

• Please complete this form if you would like to notify the Illinois FFA Center about an event in the lives of someone in our FFA Family. 

2020 - 2021 Illinois FFA CDE Schedule 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

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 Submission 

• Click here to submit your 2019 - 2020 National Chapter Award Application.  MUST BE submitted by midnight on May 1, 2020

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.

Gratitude Time - Click here for a google form where you can send a "Note of Thanks" card to anyone who has impacted your life! 

Operation Rising Sun

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2020 Officer Award Applications

• Chapter President Award Application - Currently DUE May 1, 2020

• Chapter Reporter Award Application - Currently DUE May 1, 2020

• Section Reporter Award Application - Currently DUE May 1, 2020 

Illinois FFA State FFA Degree Approved Candidates

• Click here to view the list of 2020 Illinois FFA State FFA Degree Approved Candidates

2020 Illinois FFA American FFA Degree Illinois Approved Candidates

• Click here to view the list of 2020 Illinois FFA Candidates to be recommended for the American FFA Degree

Cards Vs. Cubs, Saturday, September 12, 2020

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Farm Bureau’s Top Chapter President program

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

January 2020 Newsletter

• Click here to view the latest Winter Edition Illinois Association FFA Newsletter 

Illinois FFA Convention - 1st Business Session - Proposed Constitutional Amendment

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center. 

Eldon Witt Scholarship Application - DUE May 15

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

• Eldon Witt Scholarship Application

Illinois FFA Board Updates

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Winter 2019 Illinois FFA Newsletter

• Click here to view the 2019 Winter Illinois FFA Newsletter

Fall 2019 Illinois FFA Newsletter

• Click here to view the 2019 Fall Illinois FFA Newsletter  

Trading Post for 2019 - 2020

• NEW THIS YEAR - you can exchange CDE registrations.  

• 2019 - 2020 Illinois FFA Advisor’s Trading Post

Lock Box Practicums and Activities

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

FFA Board August Updates

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

 2020 Illinois FFA State Convention Hotel Block Open

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Alumni:

Illinois FFA Alumni Annual Meeting & Auction Update 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

212 and WLC Scholarship Winners 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Alumni Auction - Chapter Baskets

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Center:

Illinois FFA Center Survey

• PLEASE Click here to complete a survey that will provide guidance and direction for the Illinois FFA Center and State Staff.

Ag Ed/FFA State Chats

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center

John Edgar Named SIUC College of Ag Outstanding Early Career Alumni

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Interns for Summer 2020 & Bill Johnson Legislative Intern

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Office Closings:  

• March 23, 2020 through April 30, 2020 - FFA CENTER IS CLOSED

• Monday, May 25, 2020 - Memorial Day

Illinois Foundation FFA:

Illinois Foundation FFA March 13, 2020 Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Foundation FFA February 14, 2020 Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Foundation FFA January 28, 2020 Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Foundation FFA January Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Foundation FFA December Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Foundation FFA November Update

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2019 - 2020 Local Collection Drive Kickoff Listserv 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2018 - 2019 Illinois Foundation FFA Report 

• Click here to view the latest Foundation report

Industry Friends of agricultural education posts:

Tractor Supply Company; Grants for Growing program

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2020 Zoetis Industry Support Program

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois Corn Marketing Boards Supports Your Local Chapter

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

2020 GROWMARK Essay Contest Results

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

National FFA:

National FFA Updates

• Please find a National FFA report at: https://ffa.box.com/s/m7h4aousg0fk73cubhfji8d2oldhnzci. 

• Find a detailed list of updates and additional national information at: https://ffa.box.com/s/m7h4aousg0fk73cubhfji8d2oldhnzci

• 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/.

***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***

• March 23, 2020 through April 30, 2020 - FFA CENTER IS CLOSED

• May 1 - National Chapter Award Application DUE - ONLINE

• May 1 - Chapter President Award Application DUE

• May 1 - Chapter and Section Reporter Award Application DUE

• May 5 - National Chapter Award Round 1 Judges Webinar, 4:00 p.m.

• May 6 - 10 - Round 1 National Chapter Award Online Judging 

• May 12 - National Chapter Award Round 2 Judges Webinar, 4:00 p.m.

• May 13 - 20 - Round 2 National Chapter Award Online Judging 

• 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 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

• July 3 - FFA Center Closed - 4th of July HOLIDAY