Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• HOT, HOT, HOT - NOTICE:  the Illinois FFA Center will be CLOSED all day on Friday, April 25, 2026, Illinois FFA Center staff will be at the State Horticulture, Livestock, and Poultry CDEs.  

• HOT, HOT, HOT - The deadline for the 2024-2025 Illinois FFA Membership year is coming to an end on May 1, 2025.  Please be sure to have all of those second-semester students added and submitted to the FFA roster as soon as possible.  Remember that it is important to submit members each year to have the year in their membership history for the future when they may be applying for degrees, proficiency awards, and scholarships.   If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Yard (tyard@illinoisffa.org).

• HOT, HOT - The Illinois FFA Alumni and Supporters Gator Raffle Tickets are still available to sell or purchase.  After selling tickets, you can send them by Priority Mail to the IL FFA Center (please do not mail cash) or bring the money/tickets on the convention's first day to registration. Please contact pdavis@illinoisffa.org for more information.

• 97th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention - Tentative AGENDA - This has TENTATIVE CDES/LDES, Meal Functions & Other Events, Cultivating Conversations Room, Showcase & Share Room, Workshops, Band & Chorus schedules, and more.  

• 97th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention - Tentative Condensed Agenda - Each Session is featured.  You can easily print this version and share with families, friends, etc.

• Applications for State FFA Convention

• DUE May 15, 2025 - State Convention Farm Credit Newsroom App

• DUE May 15, 2025 - State Convention Courtesy Corps Application

****NEW Information****

1. 2025 Illinois FFA Degree Recipients 

2. AGAIN this YEAR - GREAT EVENT - Chapter Showcase & Share

3. 2025 IAVAT Years of Service

4. Digital Scrapbook Rubric and Deadlines

5. 1st Annual Illinois Grown Pumpkin Weigh Off

6. April FFA Board Report

7. FY26 Section Fair Contract

1. 2025 Illinois FFA Degree Recipients - Approved Candidates

Click here to view the 2025 Illinois FFA Degree Recipients that include our 2025 State FFA Degree members, our 2025 American FFA Degree candidates and, by next week, will include our 2025 Honorary FFA Degree recipients.  

2. AGAIN this YEAR - GREAT EVENT - Chapter Showcase & Share

Chapter Showcase & Share - Click here to sign up to bring your Chapter Showcase Display.  DUE MAY 15, 2025

The Chapter Showcase will be held in our “Showcase and Share” Room, B6 in the Lower Level of the Bank of Springfield Center, NEW last year and AGAIN this year to the convention. Each chapter may use 1 trifold presentation board to create their display which will stay up throughout the convention. Chapters may set up their display from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday (6/10). There are two 1-hour time slots, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. On Wednesday, we ask that 2 members from each chapter manage their display to answer questions and interact with attendees as they cycle through the room. 

The following are items that should be included on a display: 

• Location

  • County

  • Section

  • District

  • Picture optional

• School Information

  • Size

  • Mascot

  • At least 1 picture

• General Chapter Information

  • Advisor(s)

  • Officer Team

  • Size

  • At least 1 picture

• Building Communities

  • Description of one event that the chapter does that would fit under the Building Communities area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

• Strengthening Agriculture

  • Description of one event the chapter does that would fit under the Strengthening Agriculture area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

• Growing Leaders

  • Description of one event the chapter does that would fit under the Growing Leaders area of the National Chapter Award application

  • At least 1 picture

Additional Information or Fun Facts (Optional)

3. 2025 IAVAT Years of Service

Please click on this list of 2025 IAVAT Years of Service to review the list of recipients. For any discrepancies or omissions, contact Lori Copsy at lcopsy@illinoisffa.org . Please note that years of service refers to years of IAVAT membership.

4. Digital Scrapbook Rubric and Deadlines

Click here for the Digital Scrapbook Rules.  All Digital Scrapbooks must be submitted by May 15, 2025.  Please click here to share the link to your Digital Scrapbook.  Digital scrapbooks will be judged and announced before the 97th Annual Illinois FFA State Convention.  The 2025 Digital Scrapbook State Winner will be recognized on stage during the 5th Session that begins at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2025.  

5.  1st Annual Illinois Grown Pumpkin Weigh Off

Get ready for something BIG at the Illinois Product Fall Market on Saturday, October 11, 2025! We're thrilled to announce the 1st Annual Illinois Grown Weigh-Off, kicking off at 10:00 AM. Watch as Atlantic Giant Pumpkins and field-grown pumpkins go head-to-head in several exciting categories:

• Open Class – Open to everyone!

• Youth – For growers up to age 14

• FFA & 4-H Members – A chance to showcase your dedication and growing skills!

Think your pumpkin has what it takes? Sign up now: https://forms.office.com/g/mjHurDXGCz

Keep up with event updates, vendor highlights, and activities by following @illinoisproduct and visiting www.illinoisproductfarmersmarket.com. Be sure to like and share their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram—let’s grow the excitement together!

6.  April FFA Board Report - CLICK HERE

7. FY26 Section Fair Contract

FY26 Section Fair Contract- FY26 Section Fair Contract - Mandatory Due: May 21, 2025 - Email all 3 completed pages to intern@illinoisffa.org.

Fiscal Year - July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 (See Question #4 on the fair contract to make sure you are completing the correct Fair Contract.)

All FFA Chapters need to complete the section fair contract, whether they plan to participate in a section fair or not.  If you will not be the teacher at that school next year, please still sign the contract and complete this process. Please just have one teacher sign the contract for schools with multiple teachers.  If you do not complete a Section Fair Contract by May 21, 2025, we cannot send it in later, so it is best to complete one now.

If you do not plan to participate in Section Fairs from July 1, 2025, June 30, 2026, please email intern@illinoisffa.org.

Middle Schools - If your Chapter ID number differs from the high school’s, please complete an FY26 Section Fair Contract.  If the middle school is not planning to compete in Section Fairs, please email intern@illinoisffa.org, and I will update the spreadsheet accordingly. You will not need to submit a fair contract.  However, if you decide later to compete, your students will not receive any premiums.

1. The deadline to submit the FY26 Fair Contract is May 21, 2025.

2. Page 1: Complete the Teacher's Name (even if not teaching there next year), School Name, and Section Number (Multiple Teacher Programs: please select only one teacher to complete the contract).

3.  Page 3, Question #17:

1. Complete the Teacher’s Name (Please add your name, even if you are not teaching there next year.)

2. School Name

3. School’s EIN # - 9 Digits - XX-XXXXXXX (Usually begins with 36-, 37-, 38-) - The EIN # doesn’t start with “E”.  Please write in the most recent EIN # so that your fair checks are sent to the right school/district office from the Comptroller’s Office.  If you aren’t sure of the correct EIN #, you can view last year’s contract at www.ilaged.org under Chapter Contracts.

4. Complete the Section Number

5. The FFA Advisor and Administrator must sign and date the contract.

6.  Email all 3 pages to intern@illinoisffa.org

7.  If you have any questions, please email Patti Davis at pdavis@illinoisffa.org.

New Chapters: Please also complete a W9 and email it to pdavis@illinoisffa.org. Patti will then send it to the Department of Agriculture.

**** 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 - Added New Event - 3-10-25

• 2025 IAVAT Conference Crowne Plaza Room Block Link: Ends 5/16/25

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

• April 23, 2025 - Special Needs Accommodations Form for State Ag Business Management CDE

• April 23, 2025 - Invitational Marketing Plan, by Appointment Only

• April 25, 2025 - State Livestock and Poultry CDEs, University of Illinois, Stock Pavilion, 1402 W Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

• April 25, 2025 - State Horticulture CDE, Parkland College, 2400 W Bradley Ave, Champaign, IL 61821

• April 25, 2025 - IL FFA WLC Health Profile, Signature Form, and Insurance Card DUE

• May 1, 2025 - Agriscience Fair Papers DUE

• May 1, 2025 - Reporter Application DUE

• May 1, 2025 - State Ag Mechanics CDE, Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL

• May 1, 2025 - Parliamentary Procedure LDE,  Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL

• May 1, 2025 - Conduct of Chapter Meetings,  Illinois Central College, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL

• May 5, 2025 - State Ag Business Management CDE, 2-Day Mandatory Registration ENDS

• May 5, 2025 - Agriscience Fair Interviews by Appointment Only

• May 5-6, 2025 - Illinois State Envirothon CDE, Allerton Park, 515 Old Timber Rd, Monticello, IL  61856

• May 7, 2025 - State Ag Business Management CDE, District Sites TBD

• May 15, 2025 - Job Interview Results DUE

• May 15, 2025 - Public Speaking LDE Results DUE

• May 15, 2025 - Greenhand Quiz Bowl Results DUE

• May 16, 2025 - State FFA Convention Registration ENDS

• May 16, 2o25 - IAVAT Conference Crowne Plaza Hotel Room Block ENDS

• May 21, 2025 - FY26 Section Fair Contract DUE

• May 26, 2025 - Ag Issues Mandatory Registration ENDS

• May 26, 2025 - Ag Communications, Mandatory Registration ENDS

• May 26, 2025 - Special Needs Accommodations Form for Ag Issues or Ag Communications DUE

• May 28, 2025 - Ag Issues Materials DUE

• May 28, 2025 - Job Interview Materials DUE

• May 28, 2025 - Public Speaking Materials DUE

• June 1, 2025 - IAVAT Conference Registration $50 Late Fee Begins

• June 1, 2025 - Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Registration ENDS

• June 6, 2025 - Ag Communications CDE Mandatory Materials DUE

• June 9, 2025 - State Ag Communications, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 9, 2025 - Ag Issues, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703 

• June 10-12, 2025 - State FFA Convention, BOS Center, 1 Convention Plaza, Springfield, IL 

• June 10, 2025 - Public Speaking LDE at State FFA Convention, Springfield

• June 11, 2025 - Greenhand Quiz Bowl at State FFA Convention, Springfield

• June 16-18, 2025 - IAVAT Conference, Crowne Plaza, 3000 S Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield, IL 62703

• June 22-28, 2025 - IL FFA Washington Leadership Conference Trip

• July 3, 2025 - IL FFA Center closes at 12:30 p.m. 

• July 4, 2025 - IL FFA Center CLOSED

• July 7, 2025 - Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Health Profile, Signature Form/Insurance Card, and Obstacle Course FORMS DUE

• July 7-11, 2025 - State FFA Officer Meeting, SIU, Carbondale

• July 9-10, 2025 - 2nd Year Ag Teacher Conference, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• July 17, 2025 - Illinois FFA Leadership Camp Arrive Late/Leave Early Forms DUE

• July 21-24, 2025 - Illinois FFA Leadership Camp, 4-H Camp, Allerton Park, 515 Old Timber Rd, Monticello, IL  61856

• July 29-30, 2025 - Beginning Advisors Conference, Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, Springfield, IL 62703

• July 31, 2025 - Joint FFA/IAVAT Board Meeting, Springfield, IL

• August 1, 2025 - IAVAT Section Chair Meetings, IL FFA Center, Springfield, IL

• August 5-6, 2025 - Illinois FFA State Officer Meeting, IL FFA Center, Springfield,

• August 7-17, 2025 - Illinois State Fair, Springfield, IL