Items in this listserv:
ALWAYS HERE: includes information that remains relevant from week to week. New updates are added as needed.
Illinois FFA Board Reports
Illinois FFA 100th Anniversary Memorabilia - 📋 Click here to complete the form
HOT TOPICS = MUST KNOW
HOT, HOT, HOT - The Illinois FFA Center will be CLOSED, Wednesday, December 10, 2025, for FFA Center Staff Retreat and Professional Development Day.
SPICY - GREAT FLAVOR - GOOD TO BE REMINDED: With the Holidays coming up, here’s a good REMINDER - Harvest for All Program for the 2025–2026 - 8/26/2025 Listserv
Getting Warmer - Here is the Illinois FFA Center HOLIDAY office schedule: December 23, 2025 - Illinois FFA Center Closes at 12:30 p.m. for the Christmas/New Year’s Holidays and CLOSED - December 24, 2025, to January 1, 2026 for Christmas/New Year’s Holiday. FFA Center is open on Friday, January 2, 2026.
Getting Warmer - neither HOT nor COLD but when it gets HOT it’s HOT- American FFA Degree - Illinois Procedures - AGAIN THIS YEAR***** The Intent to Apply form is MANDATORY and DUE onJanuary 5, 2026. BIG ITEM to DOUBLE CHECK - Student EMAIL that is in their profile - DO NOT have an old high school email address they no longer have access to. Please ensure they update their email address prior to completing the American FFA Degree application.
Getting Warmer - but when it gets HOT it’s HOT, so don’t let your student procrastinate - National FFA Scholarship Application is NOW LIVE - DUE January 15, 2026. Apply today!
Getting Warmer - 2026 Illinois FFA Selection Committee - GREAT opportunity for your students - 12.2.2025 listserv
TEMPERATE - meaning MILD or MODERATE - 2026 State Officer Parent & Candidate Officer Orientation - Please RSVP for the candidate orientation. Click here to RSVP to attend the 2026 Parent & Candidate Orientation on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The Candidate/Parent Orientation meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. and is expected to conclude by 3:30/4:00 p.m. att the Illinois FFA Center, 3221 Northfield Drive, Springfield, IL 62702.
Luke Warm - Section President Candidate Orientation and Mandatory Survey- 12.2.2025 listserv
****NEW Information****
Educational Opp for FFA Students
2026 Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day - MARK your Calendars
Advance Team Report
Late Fee Policy
Educational Opp for FFA Students
The Missouri Prairie Foundation and its Grow Native! program are offering a free 1-hour Zoom training directed towards FFA students and high school agriculture teachers on native seed as a farm crop. Mike Hoyle, manager of Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, will share via Zoom a wealth of information on the demand for native seed and plants, how to succeed in the industry, and how farmers (and students) can diversify farm crops by growing native seed (and/or plants) as another crop.
The webinar will be at 3:30 on Tuesday, December 16th. There will also be a live Q&A session. Below is the Zoom invite link.
Topic: Grow Native! Webinar: Growing Native Seed/Plants as a Crop
Time: Dec 16, 2025, 03:30 PM Central Time
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83249813065
Meeting ID: 832 4981 3065
One tap mobile - +16469313860,,83249813065# US +13017158592,,83249813065# US (Washington DC)
Join instructions
Lilly Germeroth, 314-390-5035, lilly@moprairie.org - Conservation Programs Associate
Missouri Prairie Foundation and its Grow Native! Program
2026 Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day - MARK your Calendars
2026 Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day is set for Tuesday, March 24, 2026. We will be sharing more information about the Legislative Seminar and Legislative Day after the new year. But MARK YOUR CALENDARS now for this great event!
Advance Team Report
Thank you to everyone who submitted responses for the Advance Team Visioning Listening session.
Here is a summary of common questions, concerns, and ideas - Shared responses from the Listening Session Survey
Administrative Council approved to conduct Phase 1 of a feasibility study with CSL.
Late Fee Policy:
Late Fee Policy: The Administrative Council created a new late fee policy for all of our Ag Ed Organizations. Effective January 1, 2026, all invoices are to be paid within 60 days of issuance. After a 60-day window, a late fee of 5% will be added to the total bill.
-- Mindy Bunselmeyer
Illinois FFA Center
Phone: 217-753-3328
Cell: 217-412-5646
Email: mbunselmeyer@illinoisffa.org