Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• HOT, HOT, HOT - Camp Health Profiles & Obstacle Course Forms - PLEASE get those turned in.  Please see this link on which students have completed the required documents or have missing documents.  If you do not see your school’s name, then we do not have the required information.  Please contact pdavis@illinoisffa.org for questions or to email in the missing paperwork.  

• HOT, HOT, HOT - if you have Alumni Gator Raffle Tickets - DO NOT SEND any more Alumni Raffle tickets in the MAIL.  Please bring them to the registration at the convention (do not leave them at the raffle sales table).  If you put them in the mail, they may not arrive in time to be entered in the raffle.  

****NEW Information****

1. Ed Curry Camp Scholarships

2. President Abraham Lincoln Museum- $10.00 for Convention Attendees

3. Spots Open for Meals from the Heartland

4. Bragging Rights Quiz

1. Ed Curry Camp Scholarships

Congratulations to the 2024 Ed Curry Camp Scholarship Winners! 

Ed Curry was an amazing agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor/FFA Camp Group Leader.  He had more kindness, compassion, and friendliness in his one handshake than most others you meet.  His passing left a big hole in our hearts, but his legacy lives on in this scholarship.  

Congratulations: 

2. President Abraham Lincoln Museum

GREAT NEWS ****AGAIN this year the President Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum are offering $10.00 admission to anyone attending the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention.  

3. Spots Open for Meals from the Heartland

There are open spots for FFA members to volunteer for Meals from the Heartland during the 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention.  

The following shifts have room for more volunteers - so STOP ON OVER to lend a hand!

Please consider taking an hour and lending your hands to our 2024 Illinois FFA Service project with Meals from the Heartland.  The service project will be at the Wyndham Hotel, 700 E Adams St, Springfield, IL 62701, just across the street from the Bank of Springfield Center.  Official Dress is not required.

4. Braggin’ Rights Quiz

What do I love most about Agriculture Teachers/FFA Advisors, you might find yourself asking this question.  

• Heart for Service

• Love of their Students

• Retention of TONS of information

• Competitive Spirit

• Passion for Agriculture

• The pride they take in everyday events and of course in WINNING!  

• And the list goes on…truly it does, you are incredible humans.  

In the spirit of competition and having a little to brag about AND to ensure you know all things convention, take the Braggin’ Right Convention Quiz! I will post the 2024 State FFA Convention Prep Quiz on Monday, June 10, 2024, as the Last Convention Tip of the Day.  Studying all of the Convention Tips of the Day is a great place to start to prepare for the quiz.  

****NEW this YEAR, Illinois FFA will have a 96th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention Quiz for Advisors to take to ensure you feel fully prepared for the State Convention. If you get 100% on the quiz, come find me, I will have a small prize for you AND of course don’t forget to brag to all of your friends, family and fellow Ag Teachers about being a State Convention Expert.  

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

• CLICK HERE to view

• 2024 State FFA Convention Tentative Agenda

• 2023-24 CDE/LDE Calendar Updated 4-11-24

• C.A.R.E. Form in AET Instructions

• 2024 IAVAT Conference - All Teachers Please Read Before Starting to Register including Pre-Service, First Year Teachers, GAST Intern, Ag Ed Student/Intern.

*Please NOTE that clicking on Dates & Deadlines will take you to the www.ilaged.org calendar.  

• 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