Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• HOT, HOT - Sam Taylor Scholarship Application - DUE March 1  Sam Taylor Scholarship Application.  What is the Sam Taylor Scholarship?  Click here

• HOT - 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.

• Getting Warmer - National Chapter Award - DUE April 1, 2024, and MUST be SUBMITTED on AET, 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.  

• Second Semester Students added to the roster.  Just a reminder that if you have second-semester students who are not on your roster yet, please get them submitted.  If you have any questions, contact Tammy at tyard@illinoisffa.org.

• CORRECTED Link for the Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Alumni Scholarship - The Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters Camp Scholarship Application and Letter of Recommendation is due on Friday, March 8, 2024.

****NEW Information****

1. DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award 

2. Companies Want Your Opinion

3. National Chapter Award Application Judges NEEDED

4. Avoid August Stress - Check Account Balances NOW

5. FFA Board Updates

6. Illinois Native Plant Society Grants

7. Will Cook Memorial Scholarship

1.  DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award 

It’s time to nominate standout FFA members for the DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award. This honor is given to one FFA member per chapter, per year. Only FFA advisors can nominate, and the nominee must be a high school senior. Go here for full contest guidelines and submission requirements. The nomination deadline is Friday, March 15. Thank you for supporting your amazing FFA students.

Bayer Crop Science is proud to support the National FFA Organization by sponsoring the 77th annual DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award.

The DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award is awarded to one FFA student per chapter who exemplifies scholarship, commitment, work ethic and passion for pursuing a career in agriculture.

These students demonstrate promising young talent and are the rising stars of agriculture. Students must be high school seniors and can be nominated to receive this award by their FFA advisors.

1. The DEKALB® Agricultural Accomplishment Award is awarded to one FFA member per chapter each year.

2. Each student nominated will receive a certificate, letter from the DEKALB® brand lead and a DEKALB® Ag Accomplishment Award pin following nomination.

3. Each student nominated must be a high school senior.

4. The student nominated should exemplify scholarship, commitment, work ethic and passion for pursuing a career in agriculture.

5. A student must be nominated by their FFA advisor. Any nominations submitted from other parties will not be accepted.

6. Advisors are encouraged to enter their nomination 4 weeks or more prior to the awards ceremony. If nominated closer to the awards ceremony, the certificate and letter arrival cannot be guaranteed for the awards ceremony.

2.  Companies Want Your Opinion!

Dear Agriculture Teachers,

I am looking to gather information about what high school students are interested in learning about when a company or business comes to visit a class or a group of students. Attached is a link to a 4 question survey that is geared toward getting a better understanding of what high school students want to hear when a potential employer talks to them about their company. The goal is to gather this information so companies can incorporate it into their presentations. In turn, these presentations will be better tailored to the interests of high school students. Below is a link you can share with your students.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=FmMKJjncJkWDFK7GIdt6ktnVhu4BOZxFup9vh3P_ExBUNUIzQVNBWVYwSDcwNldNV09EMDVHNEozTS4u

Thank you for your participation, Dalton Painter

3.  National Chapter Award Application Judges NEEDED

Did we mention the National Chapter Award application is DUE Monday, April 1, 2024?  No fooling, this is the 3rd YEAR for this deadline, so don’t forget the 2024 National Chapter Award Application is DUE Monday, April 1, 2024.  

Speaking of the National Chapter Award, we need judges:  Click here if you are willing or interested in judging the National Chapter Award Applications.  Round 1 judging will take place online, it will begin on Thursday, April 4, 2024, and is to be completed by Thursday, April 11, 2024.  Round 2 judging will also take place online and begins on Thursday, April 18, 2024, and is to be completed by April 25, 2024. Round 1 Judges will score all three activities in an area.  In both rounds of judging,  judges will give scores to the area they are assigned to judge; for example, Growing Leaders are expected to score all three activities in that area for a set number of applications.  The number of applications each judge will be asked to score will depend on both the number of judges we have and the applications submitted.  ****  We will have a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, to provide training for judging the National Chapter Award application.  

After Round 1 judging is concluded, applications will be sorted again and then placed into the appropriate list in AET to then be shared and scored with those who judge Round 2.  

Both Round 1 and Round 2 scoring will be conducted via AET and the electronic scoring system.

How are deductions determined? Great question!  When judges sign up, they can select that they would like to be a deductions judge.  So five to ten lucky ag teachers are assigned to be the deductions judges for each Round.  As applications are flagged by the judges in Round 1 for deductions, deductions judges will review those flagged deductions, and in order for a deduction to occur, at least two deductions judges must agree with the original deduction flagged by any judge.  Likewise, in Round 2, at least three deductions judges must agree on any deductions to any application.  

We are encouraging every FFA Chapter that submits an application for a National Chapter Award ranking to supply at least one judge, that does NOT have to be the teacher, it can be an Alumni or friend of the FFA Chapter who has a real skill for reviewing and scoring applications.  Please share the Judges needed form with those friends who would serve as great judges of the National Chapter Award.  

Topic: National Chapter Award Judging Orientation 

Time: Apr 2, 2024, 03:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83660148748?pwd=ata8WI5g7PxP1hr5YMXCzNr7hUrgCB.1

Meeting ID: 836 6014 8748

Passcode: 643663

One tap mobile

+13092053325,,83660148748#,,,,*643663# US

+13126266799,,83660148748#,,,,*643663# US (Chicago)

4.  Avoid August Stress - Check Account Balances NOW

Midyear Reminder - Account Balances to be PAID by August 1, 2024

Please take this time to review your account balances on www.ilaged.org to make sure those balances are paid.  If outstanding bills are not paid by August 1, 2024, login access to www.ilaged.org will be turned off until the outstanding debt is paid in full.  Turning off this access will not allow a program or teacher to login to register for events or begin the FFA roster process.   Knowing your school's process for paying invoices and planning accordingly will help prevent your school from losing access. 

If you have any financial questions or inquiries about your balance, please contact Tammy Lynn Mullins at tmullins@illinoisffa.org

5.  FFA Board Updates

Please click here for the February FFA Board meeting minutes.  

Highlights:  In order to fully cover the event costs that we are hosting, a minimum of 75 students must be registered for conferences such as Ground Zero, BUILD, and Middle School to hold the event.

Highlights:  Illinois Ag Legislative Day and the Ag Legislation Seminar/Reception will be on March 12 and 13, 2024.  

6.  Illinois Native Plant Society Grants

The Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society has a Chapter goal in 2024 to connect more youth with the native plants of Illinois. Grants of up to $1000 are for one-time projects by non-profit or governmental units, and applications are accepted throughout the year. Each application is judged on its own merits and not in comparison with other applications. Projects can be implemented in one or more of 20 eligible counties in Central Illinois. Examples of previously funded projects that might be of interest to your Association are demonstration plots of prairie plants, pollinator gardens, planting of native trees, and removal of invasive plants so that existing native plants can flourish. Of course, there are many other possibilities.  The Illinois Native Plant Society website, illinoisplants.org, in the Central Chapter section.

Please click here to find a Google folder with additional information.  Thank you.

Edie Sternberg

Grant Committee Central Chapter, Illinois Native Plant Society

7.  Will Cook Memorial Scholarship

The Will Cook Memorial Scholarship is available to qualifying students for the 2024-2025 school year. The $1,000 scholarship will be payable to the Financial Aid Department of the recipient’s college in one payment for the fall semester. 

Click here for the flyer.  The award will be credited to recipient’s account.
All applications must be received by March 1, 2024. Incomplete applications or those received after the deadline will not be considered.

Apply here.  

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

• CLICK HERE to view

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar Updated 1-23-24

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

• Fall & Spring Conferences Registration & Site Information

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

• 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 - Sam Taylor Scholarship Applications DUE

• March 1, 2024 - Ag Legislative Seminar Registration & Food Allergies Form CLOSES

• 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 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Camp Scholarship Application & Letter of Recommendation DUE

• March 8, 2024 - ICAE Meeting

• March 8, 2024 - IACCAI Conference Registration & Food Allergy Form CLOSES

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

• March 12, 2024 - Ag Legislative Seminar, Inn 835, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield

• March 13, 2024 - Ag Legislative Day, Springfield

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

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

• March 15, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni & Supporters Rosters & Dues DUE 

• March 16, 2024 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Council Meeting, Springfield

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

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

• March 21-22, 2024 - IACCAI Conference, SIU, Carbondale

• 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 - Ed Curry Memorial Camp Scholarship DUE 

• 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 - WLC Registration CLOSES and 1st payment 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 18, 2024 - Special Accommodations Form DUE for State Ag Mechanics CDE

• 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 1, 2024 - WLC Final payment DUE

• 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 17, 2024 - State FFA Convention Registration ENDS

• 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 18, 2024 - IAVAT Board & Section Chairs Meeting, SIU-Carbondale

• June 19-21, 2024 - IAVAT Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

• June 23-30, 2024 - IL FFA WLC Trip, Washington, D.C.

• 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

• July 22-25, 2024 -  IL FFA Leadership Camp, Allerton Park, 4-H Camp, Monticello