Items in this listserv:

**** Top Priority****

Deadline date is Wednesday, October 21, 2020.  

Ag teachers, students, parents, FFA supporters can still provide written testimony in support of the FY22 Agricultural Education Line Item at this link - https://www.isbe.net/budgetrequestform.

FFA Dues/Affiliation Fee payment deadline November 1

Administrator Approval deadline November 1

The FFA dues/affiliation fee must be RECEIVED at the Illinois FFA Center by November 1, 2020, to complete the roster process.  The completion of the roster process is a minimum qualifier on the Incentive Funding Grant.  If you need a copy of your invoice to submit for payment, you are able to access that on the ilaged website. L

• Log in

• Dashboard

• Click on the words Account Balances (does not look like a link but it is)

• Click on the red dollar amount showing under the State FFA Balance

• Click on the PDF Invoice link to the right of the amounts

• The link to pay by credit card is underneath the PDF Invoice link for each balance

• Illinois FFA Chapters CAN use Hopper funds to pay for dues/fees - contact Tammy if you would like to use Hopper funds.

The Administrator approval also must be completed by November 1, 2020, CLICK HERE to see who will still NEED Administrator approvals from.  Administrator Approvals will be resent to your Administrators tomorrow, so please check in with them today.  THANK YOU!  When you submitted your roster, you had to input your administrator name and email address.  They should have received an email that contained a link for their approval.  The e-mail is generated by the website and would come from “Illinois Ag Ed Online System Admin@ilaged.org”.  They may need to check their spam/junk mail for the e-mail.

If you have any questions regarding the rosters, please contact Tammy (tyard@illinoisffa.org) or at ext. 106.

2020 Chapter Visits

The ilaged  Youtube Channel has the 2020 Pre-recorded Chapter Visits Presentations.  Please Click here to sign up for a time to have your FFA Chapter do a “Meet & Greet” with a major.  

Click here to view the 2020 Chapter Visits Reflection Questions.  

Click here for the pdf fillable 2020 -2021 Goal Card. 

****NEW Information****

1. WATCH our Illinois FFA Members & Chapters! 

2. Illinois FFA Center Student Worker 

3. National Creed Speaking Invitational

4. HELP is NEEDED with COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma

5. Marilyn K. Hoy Memorial Scholarship

6. Ag Issues Clarification

1.  WATCH our Illinois FFA Members & Chapters!  

Next week during the National FFA Convention! DON”T miss this opportunity to cheer on our members and chapters.  

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. CST -

Agriscience National Finalists: 

• Division 2 Animal Systems - Mason Fry & Carter Hitz, Southeastern FFA Chapter

• Division 3 Animal Systems - Lizzie Schafer, Taylorville FFA Chapter

• Division 2 Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems - Owen Rigg & Jarrett Van Beck, Southeastern FFA Chapter

• Division 4 Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems - Elijah Leasman & Cooper Lee, Southeastern FFA Chapter

Proficiency National Finalist: 

• Agricultural Sales (E) - Korey Bunselmeyer - Trico FFA Chapter

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. CST - 

National Chapter Award Finalist: 

• Bureau Valley National Chapter Award - Model of Excellence Finalist

Proficiency National Finalists: 

• Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems - Delana Erbsen - Eastland FFA Chapter

• Dairy Production (E) - Rosalee Zehr - Flanagan Cornell FFA Chapter

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 7:45 p.m. CST - 

• Illinois FFA - American FFA Degrees

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. CST

• CDE & LDE Recognition

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. CST

• 1, 2, or 3 Star National Chapter Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. CST

National Chapter Award Finalist: 

• Goreville FFA Chapter - Growing Leaders National Chapter Award Finalist

Agriscience National Finalists: 

• Division 6 Plant Systems - Cullen Covlin & Matthew Grab, Freeburg FFA Chapter

• Division 3 Plant Systems - Summer Ramsey, Southeastern FFA Chapter

Proficiency National Finalists: 

• Diversified Crop Production (PE) - Lance Moritz - Streator FFA Chapter

• Diversified Livestock Production - Eric Schafer - Taylorville FFA Chapter

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. CST

National Chapter Award Finalist: 

• Normal FFA Chapter - Building Communities National Chapter Award Finalist

• Scales Mound FFA Chapter - Building Communities National Chapter Award Finalist

Agriscience National Finalists: 

• Division 3 Power, Structural and Technical Systems - Elaan Bader, Litchfield FFA Chapter

• Division 2 Power, Structural and Technical Systems - Zoey Griswold & Kendra Lilly, Southeastern FFA Chapter

Proficiency National Finalists: 

• Grain Production - Kendall Knodle - Nokomis FFA Chapter

• Nursery Operations - Garrett Granby - Seneca FFA Chapter

American Star Awards: 

• American Star in Agriscience Finalists - Maddie Fugate, Mahomet-Seymour FFA Chapter

• American Star in Agribusiness Finalists - Ely Boulds, Eldorado FFA Chapter

Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. CST

National Chapter Award Finalist: 

• Bureau Valley FFA Chapter - Strengthening Agriculture Premier Chapter Award Finalist

• Edwards County FFA Chapter - Strengthening Agriculture Premier Chapter Award Finalist

• Flanagan Cornell FFA Chapter - Strengthening Agriculture Premier Chapter Award Finalist

• Streator FFA Chapter - Strengthening Agriculture Premier Chapter Award Finalist

Proficiency National Finalists: 

• Turf Grass Management - Logan Nodine - Cambridge FFA Chapter

Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. CST

National Officer Team Elections

• Illinois FFA National Officer Candidate - Miriam Hoffman, 2018 - 2019 Illinois FFA State Secretary - Earlville FFA Chapter 

2.   Illinois FFA Center Student Worker 

Illinois FFA Center

2020-2021 Student Worker Position

Job Summary:

This position is to provide assistance and support for the activities of the Illinois FFA Center including but not limited to the Illinois Association FFA, Illinois Foundation FFA, Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT), Post-Secondary Agriculture Student Organization (PAS), Illinois Association of Community College Agriculture Instructors (IACCAI) and Illinois FFA Alumni.

Essential Functions:

• Perform the mental and physical demands of the position

• Dependable attendance and punctuality

• Team  player with the ability to work, independently in a frequently changing environment

• Excellent interpersonal, listening, written, and verbal communication skills

• Interact and work with a diverse group of internal/external people

• Effectively prioritize, organize, use time-management skills and be adept at multi-tasking

• Maintain confidentiality

Application Process:

Student worker applicants must submit the following to the Illinois FFA Center  by

Monday, November 16, 2020

• Cover Letter

• Current resume

• 3 References including name, business/company, title, phone number and email address

*Open until filled

Mail information to:  Illinois FFA Center, 3221 Northfield Drive, Springfield, IL  62702

Email information to: mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org

A phone interview for the student worker position will be scheduled with the Illinois FFA Center Executive staff upon submission of materials.  

Supervision:

Student Worker reports to the Illinois FFA Center Executive Staff.  The Executive Director is responsible for supervision, performance review, and disciplinary actions with input from the Illinois FFA Center Executive Staff.  

Work Schedule & Compensation:

• Start date is negotiable with preference for December-January start date

• The student worker will set a schedule of 10 hours per week and update the Intern/Student Worker Google Calendar of the days of the week and times they will be expected at the Illinois FFA Center.

• The student worker will be compensated at $11 per hour and paid bi-weekly.  Any out of pocket expenses incurred by the student worker for things related to the position will be reimbursed by the Illinois FFA Center.  

• The student worker is encouraged to use the company vehicle but on occasion may have to use their personal vehicle.  Mileage will be reimbursed at $0.40 per mile.

3.  National Creed Speaking Invitational

Tarleton State University is hosting a national invitational Live Zoom Creed LDE November 3rd (with finals on November 6th).   If this is something that your  FFA members would be interested in, please preview the flyer so that they know about it.  Registration will be on judgingcard, or teachers can email Dr. David Frazier directly if you don’t have access to judgingcard.

This is a GREAT opportunity to engage students during a virtual experience.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. David Frazier at 325-660-4663.  The Spanish creed event is something they do in Texas and the entire event is run in Spanish (including the judges). It is something that they feel many students would enjoy.

David Frazier, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Agricultural Education and Consumer Sciences

Tarleton State University

4.  HELP is NEEDED with COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma

FFA Chapters and members - you can HELP and HELP is NEEDED!

What is COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma? 

Plasma is the liquid portion of blood. When it is collected from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus disease, it is known as “COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma” or “CCP”. COVID-19 patients develop antibodies – proteins developed by the immune system to help fight infections, which then circulate in the blood plasma for a period after the patient has recovered from the virus. This plasma (the fluid containing antibodies, other proteins) can be collected from a recovered patient and be either: transfused into the blood of a sick patient, or further processed into a medicine that is being studied known as a Hyper-Immune Globulin (H-Ig) to help them combat the virus. 

Why is CCP important to fight COVID-19?

Currently there are limited treatment options that directly combat the virus. Convalescent plasma offers one potential way to help patients fight the disease. As there are no FDA approved treatments for this disease, CCP is being clinically evaluated to determine its efficacy for treatment of COVID-19. 

How effective is CCP to fight COVID-19? 

Studies investigating the efficacy of CCP are ongoing. Early results from the FDA’s Expanded Access Program show that CCP is safe for use in patients, but more data is being collected and analyzed to determine its efficacy. As of August 23, 2020, CCP for direct transfusion has received authorization for emergency use, while H-Ig needs to be tested in clinical trials to determine whether it is safe and effective. 

Who can be a plasma Donor?

People who have fully recovered from COVID-19 for at least 14 days are encouraged to consider donating plasma. Individuals must have had a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 documented by a clinical test and meet other donor criteria for blood or plasma donation, as specified by the collection facility. 

Where can you donate? 

A list of plasma collection facilities, by zip code, can be found by visiting www.TheFightIsInUs.org

5.  Marilyn K. Hoy Memorial Scholarship can be found here: https://bid.dreamdirt.com/auction/285/item/marilyn-k-hoy-memorial-scholarship-due-october-31st-9177/

6. Ag Issues Clarification

During the October IAVAT Board webinar, a clarification was made that since no state contest was held during 2019-2020 and forums are more challenging due to current restrictions, 2019-2020 topics and/or forums may be used/counted by 2020-2021 Illinois Ag Issues teams. At this time, there are no other changes to the deadlines or number of forums required.

**** PREVIOUS Information Shared****

**** WORTH Sharing Again****

Career Development Events:  

Ag Sales Product - Now Available

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center on 9/8/2020

2020 Illinois FFA CDE Schedule (2021 CDE Schedule TBA)

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center

IAVAT:

IAVAT Dues/Donations

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

IAVAT Fall 2020 Professional Development Series

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

 IAVAT Committees

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

SAE Committee State Proficiency Survey - PLEASE Take a Moment to Complete

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center 

Membership Memos

• Please complete this form if you would like to notify the Illinois FFA Center about an event in the lives of someone in our FFA Family. 

IACCAI:  

• Officers - Jeff Landers, JJC - President, Brian Clement, College of Dupage - Vice President, Doug Robb, WVCC - Treasurer, Jess Smithers, Richland - Secretary, Pete Fandel, ICC - Past President

• 2020 Conference = Click here for listserv from FFA Center to collect feedback

PAS: 

• Officers - President - Gwen Heimerdinger, 1st Vice-President - Ryan Reeverts, 2nd Vice-President - Rob Janssen, 3rd Vice-President - Mazi Walker

Illinois FFA:

Leadership Training School Speeches - Click here for a document that has reflective questions that you can use with each of the Leadership Training School (LTS) speeches. 

Illinois FFA Proficiency Award Report for Spring 2021

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Opening Ceremonies 

• The major state officers have also added FFA Opening Ceremonies for each Section featuring your Section President as the State FFA Sentinel on https://www.youtube.com/user/ILAgEd  

ISBE Budget Hearings - Please take a moment to submit written/online support

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Illinois FFA Chapter Files

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Section CDE Registration Reminder

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

2020 National FFA Results for Agriscience, National Chapter Award and Proficiency Results

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center ~ Click Here to view the full results for all of our Illinois FFA Entries.  

Illinois FFA State Officer Team Updates 

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Illinois FFA Names Two American FFA Degree Star Finalists

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Tallo-AET SAE Grant Winners

• Click here to view the listserv message about Olivia Charles, West Carroll FFA

• Click here to view the listserv message about Dennis Wollin, South Central FFA

State Theme t-shirt, Convention t-shirts & Buttons

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

FFA Board Updates - August 2020

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

 Notes of Thanks to Virtual Convention Sponsors & Friends

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Donate to Virtual State FFA Convention

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center 

Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters:

Illinois FFA Alumni Ranger Raffle 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center on 9/8/2020

Alumni - National Outstanding Chapter Applications

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center on 9/8/2020

• Click here to find the folder with those forms.  

Illinois FFA Alumni Council Officer Letter of Intent

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Alumni Update - August 2020

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Illinois FFA Alumni Annual Meeting & Auction Update 

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center.  

Illinois FFA Center:

How to Pay Account Balances with a Credit Card  - For Teachers

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center 

November 26 - 27, 2020 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Thanksgiving

December 24, 2020 - January 4, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Winter Break

Celebrate our Staff - Patti Davis, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since August 23, 2010

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Celebrate our Staff - John Edgar, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since July 6, 2015

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center 

Celebrate our Staff - Tammy Yard, Proudly Serving Illinois FFA Center since April 30, 2007

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center

Illinois Foundation FFA:

2019 - 2020 Illinois Foundation FFA Annual Report 

• Click here to view the 2019 - 2020 Illinois Foundation FFA Report

Industry Friends of agricultural education posts:

Getting to Know Growing Hope 

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

2021 IL Pork Ambassador Internship

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

NCGA Accepting Applications for 2020 Scholarships

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

Managing Stress During the Busy Harvest Season

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

GROWMARK Announces 2021 Essay Contest Theme

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

4-H Sustaining the Future Award

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center on 9/8/2020

GROWMARK Foundation to Provide FFA Jackets

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

National FFA:

Seeking Member Videos and Photos to Feature at 93rd National FFA Convention

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

SAE Grants Application Opens

• Click here to view the listserv sent from the FFA Center

National FFA Update

• Include lots of great information about the National FFA Convention, be sure to check out the National FFA Update.  

• National FFA Convention Schedule 

The Horizon Conference

• Click here to view the listserv message sent by the FFA Center on 9/8/2020

***DATES & DEADLINES - Remember***

• October 22, 2020 - FFA Board Online Meeting - 3:30 pm

• October 27 - 29, 2020 - National FFA Virtual Convention - More Information

• October TBA - FFA State Officer Team Online Meeting

• November 1, 2020 - FFA Roster Administrator Approval DUE

• November 1, 2020 - FFA Dues payment received by the Illinois FFA Center

• November 6, 2020 - GROWMARK Essay Contest Deadline

• November 16 - Celebrating 19 years of Lori Nelson at the Illinois FFA Center

• November 19, 2020 - FFA Board Online Meeting - 3:30 pm

• November 19, 2020 - FFA State Officer Team Online Meeting - 6 to 8 pm

• November 21, 2020 - Ag Sales -  Assigned Times - More CDEs

• November 26 - 27, 2020 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Thanksgiving

• December 3, 2020 - FFA State Officer Team Online Meeting - 6 to 8 pm

• December 12, 2020 - Agronomy Virtual CDE - 10 am to 2 pm - More CDEs

• December 24, 2020 - January 4, 2021 - Illinois FFA Center CLOSED - Winter Break