Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

HOT, HOT, HOT - Carolina Reaper HOT - FYI…the Caroline Reaper has been named the hottest chili pepper in the world thanks to the Guinness World Records.  FALL Middle School Conference registration is DUE TODAY.  Click here for more information.  

HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT - Alumni WLC & Ground Zero Applications and Letter of Recommendation Letters from the FFA Advisor are due Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

HOT, HOT, HOT - Fry an egg on the sidewalk HOT - Roster Update- the deadline is this Friday, November 1, 2024, and includes Administrator approval.  Click here for more information shared on 9/30/2024 and more information on 10/2/2024.  

HOT, HOT, HOTTER - CREW Meeting - The first meeting to connect with every FFA Chapter in the state will be on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at a NEW TIME of 6:00 p.m. 

****NEW Information****

1. 97th National FFA Convention Results for Illinois FFA

2. Golden Owl Award Nominations DUE November 15, 2024

3. Ag Skills Showcase - Artifacts due December 4, 2024 

4. October FFA Board Report

1.  97th National FFA Convention Results for Illinois FFA

The 97th National FFA Convention and Expo has concluded in Indianapolis, with Illinois FFA members getting some well-deserved recognition. Numerous Illinois members and chapters were on stage to carry home hardware and a lifetime of memories.  Click here to view the list of the final rankings for Illinois FFA at the 97th National FFA Convention.  

BIG NEWS:

Mr. Thaddeus Bergschneider of the Franklin FFA Chapter and the 2023 - 2024 Illinois FFA State President, was elected as the 2024 - 2025 National FFA President.  We couldn’t be more proud or excited for Thad.  Congratulations!

TOP HONOR:  

Miss Lizzie Schafer of the Taylorville FFA Chapter was named the 2024 American Star in Agriscience.  An incredible accomplishment for Lizzie, her advisors, and Taylorville FFA.  

National Chapter Award:

The Cambridge FFA Chapter was named the National Champion for their National Chapter Award application in the area of Growing Leaders. 

Proficiency Awards:

Hannah Miller of the Prairie Central FFA Chapter was named the National Swine Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award Winner. 

Riley McDermott of the Waterloo FFA Chapter was named the National Vegetable Production Entrepreneurship/Placement Proficiency Award Winner. 

Agriscience Awards: 

We had several in the Top 10, click here to see all results.  

Career Development Events:

The National winning Agriculture Sales team was the Congratulations to the Neoga FFA Chapter.

The National winning Poultry team was the Olney FFA Chapter.  Team members are pictured with one of their FFA Advisors, Mr. Hayden Kincade. 

Honorary American FFA Degree Recipients from Illinois:

Dr. Lucas Maxwell, ISU; Mr Steve Sargeant, agriculture teacher/FFA Advisor at Bushnell Prairie City; Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Tracy Steffen, Parents of an American Star Finalist; Mr. and Mrs. Aaron and Sue Schafer, Parents of American Star Finalist; and Mr. Chris Geswein, ADM, a retiring member of the National FFA Foundation Sponsors' Board

American FFA Degree:  

Congratulations to our Illinois FFA members earning the American FFA Degree.  Click here to view the 2024 American FFA Degree recipient list.  

2.  Golden Owl Award Nominations DUE November 15, 2024

Golden Owl Award nominations are due next week November 15, 2024, all of the information can be found here: ilaged.org/goa

Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers is proud to partner with Nationwide, Illinois Association FFA, Farm Credit Illinois, and Compeer Financial to offer the Golden Owl Award. The Golden Owl Award® allows us to also extend our support to agricultural educators who devote countless hours, and often their own resources, to positively impact the lives of their students.

With the Golden Owl Award, students, fellow teachers and other supporters can nominate their favorite agricultural teacher and summarize what makes him or her the best in their state. Nominees can win the distinction of being their state’s Agricultural Educator of the Year and the following prizes:
$500 and an engraved plaque to each honoree
$3,000 and the coveted Golden Owl Award trophy to each state’s grand prize winner (Agricultural Educator of the Year)

In conjunction with the Golden Owl Award, Nationwide is donating $5,000 to each participating state’s FFA to further support the personal and professional growth of students, teachers and advisors alike.

3. Ag Skills Showcase - Artifacts due December 4, 2024

All artifacts must be submitted electronically by December 4, 2024, with optional virtual interviews taking place during the school day January 13-17, 2025.

We hope you will consider submitting artifacts with your students to share the skills they have gained through agricultural education. All students deserve to experience premier leadership, personal growth and career success. We hope this event engages students in your programs and helps them shine. For more information and to see the scoring rubric for more details, visit the Ag Skills Showcase Page on the IL Ag Education website at this link.

4.  October FFA Board Report

The Illinois FFA Board met on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Please click here for the highlights and to view the October 15, 2024, FFA Board report.  

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

• PREVIOUS LISTSERVS - CLICK HERE to view - 2024 - 2025 School Year

• CLICK HERE to view - the 2023 - 2024 School Year Previous Listservs

• 2024-25 State CDE/LDE Calendar - Updated 9/23/24

• All Conference Event Information, Flyers, Required Forms, Registration Information

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

• October 29, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference Registration & Food Allergies Form ENDS

• October 29, 2024 - PAS Fall Conference Registration ENDS

• October 30, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni Ground Zero Conference & WLC Scholarship Applications & Letter of Recommendations DUE

• October 31, 2024 - IAVAT & NAAE Dues DUE

• November 1, 2024 - FFA ROSTERS DUE

• November 1, 2024 - Administrators Approval of FFA Rosters DUE

• November 2, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Council Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield

• November 4-7, 2024 - Chapter Visits - Sections 3, 6, 9, 20

• November 6, 2024 - Virtual CREW Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

• November 7, 2024 - Virtual IAVAT Board Meeting, 3:30-5:00

• November 9, 2024- State Ag Sales Results DUE

• November 11, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• November 11, 2024 - BUILD Conference Registration & Food Allergies Form ENDS

• November 12, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference, LLCC, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL

• November 14, 2024 - Fall PAS Conference, Illinois State University, 100 N University St, Normal, IL

• November 15, 2024 - Fall Middle School Conference, Richland Community College, 1 College Park, Decatur, IL

• November 18-22, 2024 - Chapter Visits - Sections 8, 11, 14, 22

• November 18, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Staff Retreat

• November 23, 2024 - State Ag Sales, LLCC, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL

• November 25-26, 2024 - BUILD Conference, ISU, Bone Student Center, Normal

• November 27, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closes at 12:30 p.m.

• November 28-29, 2024 - IL FFA Center Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

• November 30, 2024 - State Dairy Foods CDE Mandatory Registration ENDS at 11:59 p.m.

• November 30, 2024 - State Agronomy CDE Early Bird Registration Closes

• November 30, 2024 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Dairy Foods & Agronomy CDE

• December 3, 2024 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Roster & Dues DUE

• December 12, 2024 - Virtual FFA Board Meeting, 3:30

• December 14, 2024 - State Dairy Foods & Agronomy CDE, University of Illinois, Stock Pavilion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL 

• December 20, 2024 - IL FFA Center Christmas Party, 11:30 am - 3:00 pm.

• December 23, 2024 - IL FFA Center CLOSES at 12:30 pm

• December 24-January 1, 2025 - IL FFA Center CLOSED for Holiday

• January 3-4, 2025 - Joint Board Meeting & Section Chairs Meeting, Springfield

• January 6, 2025 - American Degree Intents DUE

• January 8, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference at the Northfield Inn Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 8, 2025 - CREW Virtual Meeting, 3:30-5:00

• January 10, 2025 - IL FFA Alumni and Supporters Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 13, 2025 - IL Foundation FFA Board Meeting, Springfield, IL

• January 15, 2025 - American Degree Applications DUE

• January 15, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the WIU, Macomb Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 17, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the SIU, Carbondale Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 20, 2025 - IL FFA Center Closed for Holiday

• January 20, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the JJC, Joliet Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 22-23, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, Northfield Inn & Suites, Springfield

• January 23, 2025 -  Ground Zero Conference at the Effingham Registration & Food Allergies/Special Meal ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - State Horse Reasons Mandatory Registration ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - State Horse Non-Reasons Early Bird Registration ENDS

• January 24, 2025 - Special Accommodation Form DUE for State Horse CDE

• January 24-25, 2025 - Illinois FFA Alumni & Supporters Annual Meeting & Auction, Springfield, IL

• January 29, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, WIU, Macomb, IL

• January 31-February 1, 2025 - Ground Zero Conference, SIU, Carbondale, IL