Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• BLISTER, HOT, HOT, HOT - 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.

• GREAT HELP - National Chapter Awards: Looking for Ways to Summarize Your Chapter Activities?

Use the Chapter Planning Sheet to help your chapter officers ideate about potential chapter activities. Once chapter officers have completed the sheet, use the Summary Page to summarize your chapter activities.

• GREAT HELP - Improve Your Agriscience Fair Manuscripts

Take a look at these short videos developed by students and staff at the University of Florida to understand better the manuscript components of the National FFA Agriscience Fair.

• HOT, HOT, HOT - Eldon Witt Scholarship Application - DUE April 1, 2024. This is a scholarship available to Ag Ed majors during their student teaching experience before graduation from one of the four Illinois Universities with Ag Ed programs. It is designed to help offset the costs incurred for housing, etc. during their student teaching semester. Click Here for the 2024 Eldon Witt Student Teaching Scholarship application. Please note this is an earlier deadline than in past years.

• HEADS UP - 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 added members for the second semester, please go to your FFA membership tab to make sure you do not have any added members who are still pending due to missing information in their profile.  If you do, please make those corrections and resubmit the members to the FFA roster.   If you have any questions, contact Tammy at tyard@illinoisffa.org.

• Chapter & Section President Award Applications Sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau - The following link contains the main page to apply for both the Top 10 FFA Section President Award and the Top Chapter President Award. https://ifbyouth.secure-platform.com:443/a

• Chapter President Deadline: April 12, 2024.  

• WLC Registrations Still Available - Registration closes on April 15th

•  96th Annual Illinois FFA Convention, June 11 - 13, 2024 

Applications for State FFA Convention

• State Convention Band Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Drum Line Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Chorus Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Talent Application DUE April 15, 2024

• State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom App DUE May 15, 2024

• State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE May 15, 2024

• Chapter Showcase - Click here to sign up to bring your Chapter Showcase Display.  DUE MAY 1, 2024

****NEW Information****

1. National Chapter Award Basics & a Few Reminders

2. 2024 State Awards Day Listserv and Photos

3. 2024 Section President Candidate Documents, Webinar Link & Survey Link

1.   National Chapter Award Basics & a Few Reminders

• A minimum of 51 points or higher in addition to the activity summaries must be earned and completed for a chapter to fill out Form II.

• Please click here for the Handbook from National FFA on the National Chapter award.  

• 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.

For the Incentive Funding Grant application:  

• 2 Points are awarded if Form I of the National Chapter Award Program has been submitted to the Illinois FFA Center by midnight of April 1, 2024, for participation in the State Competition; OR 

• 6 Points are awarded if Forms I and II of the National Chapter Award Program has been submitted to the Illinois FFA Center by midnight of April 1, 2024, for participation in the State Competition. 

2.  2024 State Awards Day Listserv and Photos

Click here for the 2024 Illinois FFA State Awards Day Results and Listserv.  Click here for the photos of the day.

3.  2024 Section President Candidate Documents, Webinar Link & Survey Link

FORMS/DOCUMENTS to REVIEW:  

• Link to the Section President Orientation Webinar

• 2024 - 2025 Section President Calendar

• Click here for the Section President Elections Worksheet

  • This is the information we are looking for once you get elected.  

• Illinois FFA Event Expected Behavior Commitment to CARE Agreement

• 2024 - 2025 Section President Memorandum

• 2024 - 2025  State FFA Officer Commitment Form 

• MANDATORY - 2024 - 2025 Section President Orientation Survey to be completed prior to running for Section President

• Letter to Section President's Advisors

• Fleet & Reimbursement Policies

  • Section President Reimbursement Form

    • Found in Google Classroom that will be shared with them at the beginning of their term.  

**** 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.  

• 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 - St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Tickets Price Increases to $65 per ticket.

• 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 15, 2024 - State Convention Band Application DUE 

• April 15, 2024 - State Convention Drum Line Application DUE

• April 15, 2024 - State Convention Chorus Application DUE 

• April 15, 2024- State Convention Talent Application 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 1, 2024 - Dave Cain Photography Contest Entries 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 8, 2024 - St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Tickets Registration CLOSES at 5:00 p.m.

• 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 15, 2024 - State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom Application DUE 

• May 15, 2024 - State Convention Courtesy Corps Application DUE 

• May 21, 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 1, 2024 - IL FFA Leadership Camp Registration ENDS

• 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 8, 2024 - IL FFA Leadership Camp Health Profiles & Signed Obstacle Course Forms are DUE for each camper.

• July 17, 2024 - Arrive Late/Leave Early IL FFA Leadership Camp Form DUE

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

• July 29, 2024 - ELS (New Teacher) Conference, 1701 Towanda Ave, Bloomington, IL 61701

• July 30-31, 2024 - Beginning Ag Teacher Conference, Heartland Community College, 1500 W Raab Rd, Normal, IL 61761

• August 8, 2024 - IL State Fair Parade, Springfield, IL

• August 9-18, 2024 - Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL

• August 9, 2024 - Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair

• August 23-September 2, 2024 - DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL

• August 23, 2024 - DuQuoin State Fair Parade

• August 26, 2024 - DuQuoin Farm Follies, DuQuoin State Fair, DuQuoin, IL 

• August 30, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closes at 2:30 p.m. for the Holiday

• September 2, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• September 3, 2024 - District I Star Conference, Black Hawk College East Campus, 26230 Black Hawk Rd, Galva, IL 61434

• September 4, 2o24 - District II Star Conference, Joliet Junior College, Main Campus, U Building, 1215 Houbolt Rd, Joliet, IL 60431

• September 5, 2024 - District IV Star Conference, Lake Land College, 5001 Lake Land Blvd, Mattoon, IL 61938

• September 10, 2024 - District V Star Conference, Southern Illinois University, 1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• September 10, 2024 - District V Greenhand Conference & COLT, Southern Illinois University, 1263 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901

• September 11, 2024 - WIU Greenhand Conference, Western Illinois University, 1 University Cir, Macomb, IL 61455

• September 12, 2024 - District II Star Conference, John Wood Comm College; John Wood Community College, 37803 St Hwy 104, Baylis, IL 62314 

• September 13, 2024 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Forestry CDE

• September 14, 2024 - Early Bird Registration ENDS for State Forestry CDE

• September 20, 2024 - Elite Conference

• September 28, 2024 - State Forestry CDE, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences, 1205 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901