• K-State Invitational Meat Judging Event - April 5, 2025 (Information)
• Tulsa Welding School Competition - March 1, 2025
• Wyandotte County Farm Bureau Scholarship - Application
• AET Office Hours with Tracy Dendinger every Wednesday afternoon at 5:30 pm. Previously recorded Office Hours

Previously Shared Member Opportunities

Important Pathway Information

Please read!!

Pathway applications are due by March 1, 2025 for the 2025-26 school year. NO applications will be accepted after March 1, that is a hard date! Make sure you give your superintendent time to approve the application before March 1. As soon as you click on the “Release for District Approval” button, call your superintendent and ask them to approve your application. As long as it is submitted by March 1, we can make corrections after that date. All new course or course updates must be made in KCCMS by February 15.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need help. Don’t risk losing your funding, or jeopardizing your FFA Chapter, and approval by waiting too late.

kurt.dillon@ksde.gov

Please note that Exploratory Agriculture, course 68001 was changed to a .5 credit course by the review committee last year. Make sure it is mapped as .5 - 1 of 1 in KCCMS. Someone at your school is in charge of that application. If you teach Exploratory Agriculture both semesters, but to different students, 68001 - .5 - 1 of 1 only needs to be entered once. If you teach it both semesters to the same students (a one-year long course), then the second semester course should be Exploratory Agriculture II, 68002, mapped as .5 - 1 of 1.

Please take care of this before submitting your pathway application.

**NEW** Leader Lab

The Kansas FFA Leader Lab Conference has much to offer all members. This is a great opportunity to engage your student leaders in the next level of leadership. 

This year Leader Lab will only be hosted in Salina at the Courtyard by Marriott on Friday, March 14. Chapters may determine the best needs for lodging during the event, be that commuting from their local communities or staying in the area.

During Leader Lab members have an opportunity to network with others from across the state and go through workshops with professional facilitators on important topics such as goal setting, time management, and communication. The atmosphere of Leader Lab allows members to be engaged at all times, while actively participating in the workshops. Members learn a lot in a short amount of time that they are able to take back to their chapters.

Conference Details:

·    Flat registration fee per individual of $30

·    Registration for students includes: Conference materials

·    Official dress is to be worn.

Registration is open, additional information is available on the registration form.

**NEW** Link for KS Youth Institute

The Global Youth Insitute notified us that they are having website issues and the link they previously provided is no longer working. 

New Link

**NEW** Nutrients for Life Digital Contest

Fertilizers play a pivotal role in addressing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our contest is centered around UN Goal #2, Zero Hunger, to encourage participants to explore and creatively showcase the importance of fertilizers in achieving these global objectives.

All submissions must incorporate the theme: #Madepossiblebyfertilizer. Classrooms in grades 7-12 should creatively demonstrate and explain how fertilizer contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger.

Exciting prizes await the classrooms, including $5,000 for 1st place, $3,000 for 2nd place, and $1,500 for 3rd place, with two honorable mentions receiving $750 each.

The submission deadline is March 10, 2025. Winners will be announced on National Agriculture Day, March 18, 2025.

Click here for more information.

**NEW** Nominate Members for the Culver’s FFA Ambassador Program

Culver’s will accept FFA Ambassador Program nominations from Feb. 17-28. Guests can nominate standout FFA members to represent Culver’s and their FFA chapter, with the opportunity to earn up to $2,500 for their chapter by participating in various opportunities throughout the ambassador year. Nominees must be active FFA members for the 2024-25 school year, and up to 10 ambassadors will be selected. Click here after Monday, Feb. 17, to learn more and nominate. 

**NEW** Alpha of Clovia

Alpha of Clovia is a unique all-female living and learning environment for undergraduate students at K-State, located just a block off-campus with origins. We are an approved living community that meets the first-year residency exemption, meaning our members get to live in-house starting their freshman year. Since 1931, our members have embraced the ideals of sisterhood, accountability, sincerity, and growth. Clovia gives women the opportunity to grow their leadership and personal skills while making friendships that last a lifetime! 

More Information

Willie and the Beanstock Registration & Website Updates

Registration for Willie and the Beanstalk is now open! We are looking forward to working with all of the FFA students and members this year. Anyone can register on our website or at this link https://webapp.agron.ksu.edu/beanstalk/. It has been brought to our awareness that many people have been having technical difficulties with our site. We are happy to announce that we have (hopefully) fixed all of the issues and all dates on our site should be accurate!

Career and Leadership Development Events

The 2024 National FFA CDE and LDE exams and practicums have been posted to the relevant events “Past Tests and Practicums” folders. These are easily accessible from the CDE/LDE webpage. Note: The agronomy and horse evaluation exams/answers are provided by outside certifying sources and are not available.

National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA: 2025-26 Application Open

The application is now open for the 2025-26 National Teacher Ambassadors for FFA cohort. Applications close on Saturday, March 1. Teacher ambassadors are selected and provided training from the National FFA on various educator resources and experiences the organization offers. Once trained, teacher ambassadors serve in their home state by being a resource for other agriculture educators and answering questions about educator resources and experiences. Apply today.

Kansas Group - WLC Information

Kansas FFA currently 60 student spots reserved for the second week of the conference (June 10-13). The cost of the conference will be $975, plus $700 for flight and incidentals. The total cost to travel with the Kansas FFA group is $1,675.

Chapters/members are required to provide a $150 deposit per space reserved, the deposit will be applied to the conference registration. The deposit must be received within TEN (10) days of registering to hold the space. If deposit is not received following the completion of the Kansas FFA – WLC Interest form within 10 days the space will be given to the next student in line. The associations policies regarding payments and cancellations is provided here.

Additional information regarding the WLC experience can be found on the National FFA webpage under Explore FFA – Events & Conferences– Washington Leadership Conference.

If your student(s) need to attend another week of the conference, National FFA will open registration for WLC on Wednesday, March 5 at 5 pm EST. Students traveling outside of the group are responsible for their own registration through National FFA and other accommodations.