Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• ON FIRE - HOT, HOT, HOT - 2024 State FFA Degree Application - Click on AET State Degree 

• State Officer Candidate and Parent Orientation - Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 1:oo p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Click here to RSVP. 

•  2024 Illinois FFA Selection Committee

The State FFA Officer Selection Committee application is due March 15, 2024.  If you have students who are interested in being on the 2024 Selection Committee click here to apply.  Should a student be selected, they need to know the selection committee will meet on April 27, 2024, in Springfield, Illinois. Their attendance will be critical to the process. Their ability to travel to Springfield on that date is required.

• LUKE Warm - National Chapter Award - DUE April 1, 2024, and MUST be SUBMITTED, need a REMINDER on how to submit?  Click Here.  Great news, the January State Scoop podcast special guest is Trent Taber, Cambridge FFA provides insight and advice on the National Chapter Award.  It’s COMING SOON!

****NEW Information****

1. National Service-Learning Contest for Students!

2. Ag Science Fair Project Needs Your Help

3.  Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Assistant Needs Your Perceptions

1. National Service-Learning Contest for Students!

The Bill of Rights Institute is working to promote our annual MyImpact Challenge teen service project contest. We are looking for teens who are involved in service, and their project could win up to $10,000!

We need your help to reach active students, their teachers, and other adult supporters. The deadline for this year’s national contest is May 19, and we are open to students 13-19 who are involved in community service, whether the project is targeted at government, charity, or entrepreneurship. All that is required to enter is a project report, photo/video documentation, and an essay on how their community service project aligns with civic virtues and constitutional principles.

Full details about the contest, including our submission guidelines and judging rubrics, can be found online at MyImpactChallenge.org.  We look forward to hearing about all of the ways your students are changing their communities!

Adam Brickley, Manager, Civic Engagement Projects, Bill of Rights Institute

2.  Ag Science Fair Project Needs Your Help - Message from Rylen & Dannyka

Dear FFA Advisors,

Good morning, my name is Rylen Schwarting and my partner's name is Dannyka Smidt, from Nebraska and we are working on a ag science fair project that involves recruiting, and retaining agricultural ag teachers and FFA advisors in the United States. We discovered that your states had a high percentage of open or unfilled ag teacher positions. We created a survey that we would like you to send out to all the teachers of your state in order to gather data for our science fair project. If you could please send this to your teachers, we would greatly appreciate it!

If this email has not been sent to the correct person for your state, could you please forward to the correct person. Below is the link to the survey, this survey should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. 

Thank you again for your time and help! 

Rylen, and Dannyka 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdJEWHgNF2IMj8-biOwGaZSSHROUDjuUqtDyikRRwPteEpchg/viewform?usp=sf_link

3.  Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Assistant Needs Your Perceptions

Dear Agriculture Teachers,

I wanted to reach out one final time to invite you to participate in a research study about your perceptions and implementation of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and SAE for All in your agricultural education program by January 24. This survey is my dissertation research at North Carolina State University and should only take about 10-20 minutes to complete. For the most reader-friendly format, we do recommend completing the survey on a computer instead of a mobile device. I would greatly appreciate your time in completing the survey below. 

https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3ekaMSa9tRpsMAe 

Through participation in this study, you can choose to enter your name into a drawing for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards to be selected later this year.  If you have any questions, or if you are interested in more information about this study, please contact the principal investigator, Jillian Ford via email at jrcasey2@ncsu.edu.

 Thank you again,

 Jillian Ford, Principal Investigator

Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Assistant

Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences

North Carolina State University

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

• CLICK HERE to view

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar Updated 9-25-23

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

• Fall & Spring Conferences Registration & Site Information

• 2024 State FFA Convention Downtown Room Reservations Links

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

• January 25, 2024 - Marketing Plan Invitational Information Meeting - Via Zoom

• 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, 2 Sites:  Joliet Junior College, Main Campus, U Building - Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL& WIU, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455

• 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 10, 2024 - State FFA Officer Candidate & Parent Orientation, IL FFA Center, Springfield

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

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

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

• February 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 2024 - Tentative Ag Legislative Day

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

• March 1, 2024 - Sam Taylor Scholarship Applications DUE

• March 1, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Camp Scholarship Application & Letter of Recommendation 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 - CREW Meeting, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

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

• March 20, 2024 - Intents due for Marketing Plan Invitational CDE

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

• March 22, 2024 - Mandatory Registration ENDS for State Dairy Cattle/Handlers CDE

• March 22, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Dairy Cattle/Handlers CDE

• March 22-23, 2024 - State Officer Meeting

• March 23, 2024 - State Awards Day

• March 23, 2024 - Mandatory Registration ENDS State Food Science 

• March 23, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Food Science CDE

• 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 1, 2024 - National Chapter Application DUE - MUST SUBMIT - Here’s How

• April 1, 2024 - Eldon Witt Student Teaching Scholarship Applications DUE

• April 5, 2024 - State Dairy Cattle/Handlers CDE, Kaskaskia College, 27210 College Rd, Centralia, IL 62801

• 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 6, 2024 - State Food Science CDE, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, 1205 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• April 9, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference Registration CLOSES & Food Allergies/Special Meals Form DUE for Spring Middle School Conferences

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

• April 11, 2024 - Materials due for Marketing Plan Invitational CDE

• 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 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 23, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 

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

• April 24, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Sauk Valley Community College, 173 IL-2, Dixon, IL 61021

• April 25, 2024 - Spring Middle School Conference, Rend Lake College, 468 North Ken Gray Pkwy, Ina, IL 62846

• April 25, 2024 - Marketing Plan Invitational CDE, Via Zoom, Hosted by Richland Community College

• 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 Mechanics 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

• TBA - IAVAT Board & Section Chairs Meeting, SIU-Carbondale

• TBA - 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