Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPIC:

• Chapter Strategic Plan:  You must submit a Chapter Strategic Plan ( Pre POA) by October 1 to receive any credit in Section E of the IFGA.  The FFA Chapter can use any format they prefer, but all plans received must be sent electronically.  NO paper copies are needed.  

Steps to complete the Illinois FFA Chapter Strategic Plan Process: 

1.  ALL FFA Chapters MUST Click here

2. ALL FFA Chapters MUST Answer the first 5 questions of the form.

3. EITHER upload your own plan OR complete the form you have opened created by the Illinois FFA Center.

4. ALL Chapters MUST open this form REGARDLESS of what format the Chapter Strategic Plan is in.

Here are the Questions on the Chapter Strategic Plan form.  

Questions, email mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org

DISCLAIMER - If your school does NOT  allow access to uploading to Google forms, please email your Chapter Strategic Plan to intern@illinoisffa.org by October 1.

As a reminder, the Chapter Strategic Plan (Pre - POA) is due October 1.

****NEW Information****

1. Illinois FFA State Leadership CREW Meetings for 2023 - 2024

2. FS -  GROWMARK Check-In to Cash-In for FFA

3. Farm Progress State Officer Schedule & Locations

4. FFA Rosters due 10/1/23

What does CREW stand for?  

• Chapter 

• Representatives 

• Engagement 

• Webinars

Goal - formulate a way for FFA members to be involved at the state level throughout the year and empower them to contribute to the conversations and ways of connecting FFA members with more opportunities throughout FFA.

Topic: 2023-2024 CREW Meetings

Time: 3:30 p.m. All CREW meetings will begin at 3:30 p.m. and we will use this Zoom link for every CREW meeting.

Click here to sign up for your 2023 - 2024 CREW Committee.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86925668319?pwd=cHUrTk8zYmNtM3dlMVBFcWxURjlNQT09

Meeting ID: 869 2566 8319

Passcode: 329356

One tap mobile +13126266799,,86925668319#,,,,*329356# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Plan of Action - conduct Virtual Bi-monthly Meetings

• September 6, 2023, Meeting at 3:30 p.m. -  the kickoff meeting of the year and introduction to all of the Committees

  • Majors and Section Presidents will introduce all of the committees and highlight what their committees are all about at this September meeting and promote students to participate in the yearly kickoff meeting.

  • After this meeting all attendees will get a google form for them to rank the committees 1 through 5, we want a balanced number of the committees so not everyone will get their top preference.  

  • FFA Chapters can have as many students as they wish to participate in the State Leadership CREW.  

  • Students/delegates from the same school will not serve on the same committee unless they have more than 5 attending the virtual committee meetings.  

  • It is recommended that Sophomores and Juniors serve on the committees and two of them eventually serve as the chapter’s delegates in the Business sessions at State FFA Convention, as they will be most likely to see the fruits of their work and be more invested.  

  • It is recommended that all Section Officers participate in the bi-monthly CREW committee meetings, even if they are not the delegates who will be selected from their schools, it is a great way for them to participate in these committee work and leadership decisions. 

• November 8, 2023, State Leadership CREW Meeting at 3:30 p.m. - students are assigned to committees and will break out into Zoom rooms to meet as a committee, discuss committee ideas and brainstorm.  

• January 10, 2024, State Leadership CREW Meeting at 3:30 p.m. - discuss what has been done to this point and evaluate what works well, what needs improvement and where do we go from here. 

• March 13, 2024, State Leadership CREW Meeting at 3:30 p.m. - formulate the committee report to be voted on by all delegates at the May meeting.  

  • It is recommended that by this meeting schools should solidify who the two delegates are who will be representing their schools in June. 

  • Also identify two alternate delegates as well, to allow them to be familiar with the committees and the process as well. 

• May 29, 2024, State Business Session Meeting at 3:30 p.m. - this one is a delegate Business Meeting that delegates will attend even if they did not attend or participate in the Committee Meetings. 

  • Vote on Committee Reports, State FFA Degrees, and any Constitutional amendments.  

• June 11 - 13, 2024 - State FFA Convention

  • Business Meeting

2023-2024 Committees:  

• Ag Literacy

• Ag Teachers Recruitment

• Foundation

• Member Engagement & Development

• Policy/Advocacy for the Ag Line Item

2.  FS -  GROWMARK Check-In to Cash-In for FFA

During the three days of Farm Progress Show, FFA students, alumni, their supporters, and fans are invited to check-in for the FFA. For every check-in cataloged at the FS Tent, the Illinois Association FFA will receive $1.00 up to $5,000. The 5 chapters with the most check-ins at the end of the show will receive $1,000 each. The donations will be made by the GROWMARK Foundation on behalf of the FS Cooperative System. If you love FFA as much as we do, stop by to check-in and help FFA cash-in.  Click here to learn more about FS at the Farm Progress Show.

STOP by FS tent on lot #1133

3.  Farm Progress State Officer Schedule & Locations

The Illinois FFA State officers will be attending the Farm Progress Show and hope to see you there!  They will be located in Booth # 605 with Illinois Corn and Illinois Soybean Associations on Tuesday, August 29.  On Wednesday, August 20, they will be located in Booth #1133 with FS - GROWMARK.  Finally on Thursday, August 21, the Illinois FFA State Officer team with our friends at the Illinois Farm Bureau at Booth #753.  The state officers will also be joining Farm Credit each day at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday & Wednesday and at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday for the FFA Member Huddle at Booth #763. 

Each day at the Farm Progress Show, our officer team will be encouraging every Illinois driver attending the show to sign up for the FFA License plate.  

Want to know more about the Illinois License Plate? Click here 

4.FFA Rosters due 10/1/2023

FFA roster due date:  October 1, 2023

Administrator Approval date:  November 1, 2023

The FFA roster must be completed and submitted by October 1, 2023, and your administrator must complete their approval by November 1, 2023, to meet the minimum qualifications on the IFG application. 

As a refresher, if needed, instructions can be found on the ilaged website in the TEACH section.  Go to Educator Resources, then on the right side there is a box that is FFA Membership Info.  There you will find the 2023-2024 FFA Roster Instructions

IMPORTANT Reminders

·         You must start with updating your profile to include the courses that you teach

·         Once you have the students all added to the website, don’t forget you still have to go to the FFA Membership tab to submit the members to the FFA roster.  The system may list past members that are still eligible for membership in the pending submission area, so please be sure to review them before selecting submit all.

·  Move any students who will NOT be in your FFA roster to “inactive” status by clicking the red X before their name.

·         If you need to access the National FFA website for anything, you must log in through the link in your Dashboard on ilaged.

For any FFA roster questions, please contact Tammy Yard – tyard@illinoisffa.org or 217-753-3328 ext 106.

**** PREVIOUS Information Shared - WORTH Sharing Again****

• CLICK HERE to view

• IAVAT Dues & Donations Link

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar

*Please NOTE, that if you click on Dates & Deadlines it will take you to the www.ilaged.org calendar.  

• August 25, 2023 - DuQuoin State Fair Parade, DuQuoin, IL

• August 28, 2023 - Farmyard Follies, DuQuoin, IL

• August 28, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Tickets Registration CLOSES

• August 29-31, 2023 - Farm Progress Show, Decatur, IL

• September 1, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closing at 2:30 for Labor Day Holiday

• September 4, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Labor Day Holiday

• September 5, 2023 - District V Star Conference & SIUC Greenhand/COLT, SIUC, Ag Building, 1205 Lincoln Dr., Room 209, Carbondale, IL

• September 6, 2023 - CREW Meeting, Virtual, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

• September 6, 2023 - Western Illinois University Greenhand Conference, University Union, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455 - Registration Form

• September 7, 2023 - District III STAR Conference, John Wood Community College - new Agricultural Sciences Complex - 37803 St Hwy 104, Baylis, IL

• September 9, 2023 - Mandatory Registration ends for State Horse Reasons CDE Registration

• September 9, 2023 - Early Bird Registration ends for State Horse Non-Reasons CDE Registration

• September 11, 2023 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• September 12, 2023 - District I Star Conference, Black Hawk College - Vet Sciences Bldg - 26230 Black Hawk Road, Galva, IL 61434

• September 13, 2023 - District II Star Conference, Joliet Junior College - Main Campus, U Building - Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL

• September 14, 2023 - District IV Star Conference, Lake Land College –5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 

• September 8, 2023 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Horse CDE to IL FFA Center 

• September 16, 2023 - Early Bird Registration ends for State Forestry CDE

• September 17, 2023 - St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Game, IL Foundation FFA Fundraiser, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

• September 18, 2023 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• September 18 - 22, 2023 - Chapter Visits in Sections 18 and 19

• September 22, 2023 - Elite Conference, Heartland College, 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761

• September 15, 2023 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Forestry CDE to IL FFA Center 

• September 23, 2023 - State Horse CDE, Black Hawk College East Campus, 26230 Black Hawk Rd, Galva, IL 

• September 25, 2023 - IL Team Ag Ed Vision Planning (Tentative)

• September 25 - 29 - Chapter Visits in Sections 13, 14, 15, 22 and 24 

• September 27, 2023 - Illinois FFA Center Closed for Office Cleanout Day

• September 30, 2023 - State Forestry CDE, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, 1205 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 

• October 1, 2023 - FFA Rosters Due

• October 1, 2023 - Chapter Strategic Plan DUE - Click here

• October 5, 2023 - National Convention Prep Day, IAA Building, Normal, IL

• October TBA, 2023 - State Land Use CDE - Tentative

• October 2 - 6, 2023 - Chapter Visits in Sections 2, 9, 11, 20, and 23

• October 9, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• October 12 - 13, 2023 - IACCAI Conference, Heartland Community College, Bloomington, IL

• October 16 - 20, 2023 - Chapter Visits in Sections 1, 4, 7, 16, and 21

• October 23, 2023 - Illinois Foundation FFA Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield, IL (Tentative)

• October 24, 2023 - Virtual State Officer Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

• October 25, 2023 - IAVAT Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield, IL (Tentative)

• October 26, 2023 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• October 31, 2023 - IAVAT & IACCAI Dues Deadline

• November 1-4, 2023 - National FFA Convention, Indianapolis, IN

• November 4, 2023 - State Ag Sales Results Due

• November 6, 2023 - BUILD Conference Registration Closes

• November 7, 2023 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• November 7, 2023 - Fall PAS Conference Registration Due

• November 7 or 8, 2023 - Tentative Middle School Conference

• November 8, 2023 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Scholarships Applications Due for WLC & Ground Zero Conference

• November 8, 2023 - CREW Meeting, Virtual, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• November 9, 2023 - ICAE Meeting, (site tentative)

• November 3, 2023 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Ag Sales CDE to IL FFA Center 

• November 10, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November 13 - 17, 2023 - Chapter Visits in Sections 6, 8, 12, and 17

• November 14, 2023 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

• November 14, 2023 - IAVAT Administrative Council Meeting, FFA Center, Springfield

• November 16, 2023 - PAS Conference, ISU, Hancock Stadium, North Main St, Normal, IL

• November 18, 2023 - State Ag Sales, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• November 18, 2023 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Council Meeting, Illinois FFA Center, Springfield, IL

• November 20-21, 2023 - BUILD Conference, ISU, Bone Center, 200 N University St, Normal, IL

• November 22, 2023 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 for Holiday

• November 23-24, 2023 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November25, 2023 - Mandatory Registration closes for State Dairy Foods CDE

• November 25, 2023 - Early Bird Registration closes for State Agronomy CDE

• November 28 - December 2, 2023 - NAAE/ACTE Conference, Phoenix, AZ

• November 24, 2023 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Dairy Foods and State Agronomy CDEs to IL FFA Center 

• December 1-4, 2023 - IAA Farm Bureau Annual Meeting, Palmer House, Chicago, IL

• December 4 - 8, 2023 - Chapter Visits in Sections 3, 5, 10, and 25

• December 9, 2023 - State Agronomy & Dairy Foods CDEs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

• December 14, 2023 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting

• December 21, 2023 - Illinois FFA Center Closes at 12:30 p.m. for the Christmas/New Year’s Holidays

• December 22, 2023  to January 2, 2024 - Christmas/New Year’s Holiday – IL FFA Center Closed

• January 5, 2024 - Tentative IAVAT/FFA Joint Board Meeting, IL FFA Center

• January 5, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Annual Meeting Registration Closes

• January 6, 2024 - Tentative IAVAT Section Chairs Meeting, IL FFA Center

• January 8, 2024 - American FFA Degree Mandatory Intents DUE

• January 10, 2024 - CREW Meeting, Virtual, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• January 12, 2024 - Tentative ICAE Meeting

• January 15, 2024 - American FFA Degree Applications DUE

• January 15, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• January 19-20, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Annual Meeting & Auction, President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, 701 E Adams St, Springfield, IL

• January 26-27, 2024 - Ground Zero Conference, Southern Illinois University, 1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• January 30, 2024 - Spring PAS Conference Registration DUE

• January 31, 2024 - Deadline for Foundation Program & Stage Recognition for Sponsorship and Collections 

• January 31, 2024 - Ground Zero Conference, Joliet Junior College, Joliet

• February 2-3, 2024 - Tentative Ground Zero Conference (2 Sites)

• February 5-7-, 2024 - American Degree Interviews, FFA Center, Springfield

• February 8, 2024 - Spring PAS Conference, Heartland Community College, 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761

• February 13, 2024 - FFA Board Virtual Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• February 17, 2024 - Tentative State FFA Officer Candidate & Parent Orientation, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• February 17, 2024 - State Meats Evaluation & Technology & Veterinary Science CDEs Early Bird Registration Ends

• February 17, 2024 - State Ag Ed Lesson Plans DUE

• Feburary 17-25, 2024 - National FFA Week

• February 23, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Meats & Vet Science CDEs to IL FFA Center 

• February 27, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• March or April 2024 - Tentative State Dairy Cattle/Handlers CDE 

• March 2024 - Tentative Ag Legislative Day

• March 1, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Rosters & Dues DUE 

• March 1, 2024 - Sam Taylor Scholarship Applications DUE

• March 2, 2024 - State Meats & State Vet Science & Ag Ed CDEs, University Of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Stock Pavilion, 1380-1476 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

• March 2-3, 2024 - Tentative State Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• March 2-3, 2024 - Products Expo, IL State Fairgrounds, Springfield

• March 6, 2024 - District Proficiencies

• March 8, 2024 - ICAE Meeting

• March 9, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Council Meeting, Springfield

• March 12, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• March 13, 2024 - Tentative State Food Science CDE, SIU-Carbondale

• March 13, 2024 - CREW Meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• March 13-15, 2024 - Tentative National PAS Conference in Illinois

• March 20-24, 2024 - National MANRRS Conference, Chicago, IL

• March 22-23, 2024 - State Officer Meeting

• March 23, 2024 - State Awards Day

• March 28, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 p.m. for Holiday

• March 29, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for Good Friday

• April 2024 - Tentative State Dairy Foods CDE

• April 1, 2024 - National Chapter Application DUE

• April 5, 2024 - State Livestock Reasons Mandatory Registration CLOSES

• April 5, 2024 - State Horticulture CDE Mandatory Registration CLOSES

• April 5, 2024 - Early Bird Registration Ends for State Livestock Non-Reasons & State Poultry CDEs

• April 10, 2024 - IAVAT Board Meeting, Tentative, IL FFA Center

• April 12, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Livestock, Horticulture, & Poultry CDEs to IL FFA Center 

• April 15, 2024 - Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• April 15, 2024 - Results Due for Parliamentary Procedure & Conduct of Chapter Meetings

• April 15, 2024 - Illinois FFA Agriscience Fair Applications DUE

• April 15, 2024 - Eldon Witt Student Teaching Scholarship Applications DUE

• April 16, 2024 - FFA Board Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• April 17, 2024 - State Ag Business Management Early Bird Registration Closes

• April 18, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics Mandatory Registration Closes & Results DUE

• April 18, 2024 - State Ag Mechanics CDE Waiver DUE

• April 19, 2024 - State Livestock & Poultry CDEs, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Stock Pavilion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL

• April 19, 2024 - State Horticulture CDE, Parkland College, 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821

• April 23, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Administrative Council Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• April 24, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Ag Mechanics CDE, Parliamentary Procedure, & Conduct of Chapter Meetings to IL FFA Center 

• April 27, 2024 - IL FFA State Officer Candidate Selection Committee, Springfield Tentative

• May 2024 - Tentative Illinois Envirothon, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp Ground, Monticello, IL

• May 1, 2024 - State Ag Business Management CDE, District Sites TBA

• May 2, 2024 - State Ag Mechancis CDE, Parliamentary Procedure, and Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Illinois Central College, East Peoria Campus, 1 College Dr, East Peoria, IL 61635

• May 10, 2024 - ICAE Meeting

• May 15, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• May 15, 2024 - District Job Interview, District Public Speaking & Greenhand Quizbowl Section Results DUE

• May 21, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

• May 22, 2024 - FY25 Section Fair Contracts MANDATORY DUE

• May 24, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closing at 2:30 p.m. for Memorial Day Holiday

• May 27, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for Memorial Day Holiday

• May 28, 2024 - State Ag Issues CDE Mandatory Registration ENDS & Materials DUE

• May 28, 2024 - Job Interview & Public Speaking Materials DUE

• May 28-29, 2024 - State FFA Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• May 29, 2024 - IL FFA Convention Business Session, Virtual

• June 7, 2024 - Ag Communications Mandatory Registration & Materials DUE to Lincoln Land Community College

• June 10, 2024 - Ag Communications & Ag Issues, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 11-13, 2024 - State FFA Convention, BOS Center, Springfield, IL

• June 11, 2024 - Job Interview & Public Speaking LDEs at State FFA Convention

• June 12, 2024 - Greenhand Quizbowl, State FFA Convention

• June 13, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Raffle Drawing, 1:00 p.m.

• June 13-14, 2024 - State FFA Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• June 17, 2024 - IAVAT Board & Section Chairs Meeting, SIU-Carbondale

• June 18-20, 2024 - IAVAT Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• June 2024 - Tentative IL FFA WLC Trip, Washington, D.C.

• July 2024 - Tentative IL FFA Leadership Camp, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp, Monticello

• July 3, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closing at 12:30 p.m. for Holiday

• July 4, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for 4th of July

• July 8-12, 2024 - State Officer Meeting