Items in this listserv:

HOT TOPICS - MUST KNOW:

• SURFACE of the SUN - HOT, HOT, HOT - Camp Health Profiles and Forms can be completed now to save time tracking down the students this summer. Advisors, please review this spreadsheet to see what has been completed and what remains missing.   Complete by July 7, 2025.

• HOT, HOT, HOT - 2025 Farm Progress Invitational Soil Judging Contest - The 2025 Farm Progress Invitational Soil Judging Contest will be held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at the Farm Progress Show site near Decatur, Ill. Bring up to three teams and compete for cash prizes in this world-class contest! This invitational soil judging contest is only held when the Farm Progress Show visits Decatur, Ill.  IF YOU REGISTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, YOU AND EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN THE SOIL JUDGING CONTEST RECEIVE FREE ADMISSION TO THE SHOW!  Please click here to fill out the application form and submit it to Dennis Bowman as soon as possible.

• UPDATED State Star in Agriscience:  Star in Agriscience State Winner:  Kade Boatman was selected as the 2025 State Star in Agriscience Winner. Kade is the son of Tom and Tammy Boatman. He is a member of the Byron FFA Chapter, advised by Eric Tryggestad. His research project focuses on finding heritability patterns with the scur gene in Hereford cattle. He researched 85 total calves in this year's calf crop.  The data he collected proved that animals with the nub trait are more likely to pass the scur gene onto the next generation.  He looks forward to continuing this project in the future, with his next goal being to design a DNA test for the gene.  This will not only better his own herd but the Hereford breed as a whole. 

****NEW Information****

1.  Agriculture & Food Roundtable Conference

2.  Message & Opportunity from National FFA

1. Agriculture & Food Roundtable Conference

www.AgCareers.com is excited to be hosting their Agriculture & Food Roundtable Conference in St. Louis from August 5th to 7th!

The Conference hosts a combination of agriculture and food employers, associations, and education professionals to provide a unique and rewarding experience.

Attendees can earn 8.5 PDCs for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP and 8.5 HR (General) Credits through HRCI when they attend this event!

This link will provide you with additional information about this great Event: https://web.cvent.com/event/e4a0f9df-0bb7-46f6-b6c8-0e549d6313fd/summary

2.  Message & Opportunity from National FFA

Hello Advisors,

We are reaching out to share some exciting news as part of our ongoing belonging and engagement efforts. To provide a deeper, holistic experience for students, we have decided to redesign our FFA for All event into a multi-day initiative to foster more meaningful connections among our members. In the lead up to the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, we are launching a growth-focused pilot program called FFA Chapter Connect. This new initiative will allow paired chapters to meet before, during, and after national convention through intentional activities to learn more about one another and build lasting relationships. 

Here’s a snapshot of the pilot:

• Chapters will be matched across different communities, backgrounds and regions (e.g., a chapter from rural South Carolina paired with a chapter from Queens, N.Y.).

• We will select 30-40 chapters for this initial pilot year.

• Participation will require a three-month commitment before the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, active involvement during national convention in Indianapolis, and an optional chapter exchange program post-convention.

• We are finalizing plans for selected chapters to receive a stipend to help offset travel and convention expenses.

How You Can Participate:

• Consider applying for your chapter to participate in this inaugural program.

• Identify and recommend other chapters to apply for participation.

• Share the application with specific chapters you believe would commit to the program requirements.

• Recommend a variety of chapters representing both diverse and non-diverse backgrounds (e.g., production vs. nonproduction; special enrollment vs. public; homogeneous vs. ethnically diverse).

The application deadline is Tuesday, July 1, 2025. To learn more and apply, visit https://nffa-applications.smapply.io/prog/national_ffa_chapter_connect_2025/. 

Thank you in advance for helping us promote this exciting initiative to strengthen belonging and engagement across cultural and geographic lines. We look forward to partnering with you to make this pilot a success!

-The Belonging and Engagement Team

**** 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

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

• 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