Bremmer: FFA major state officers finishing the year strong

From conferences to convention to contests, this month the Illinois FFA major state officers have been busy traveling all across the state and even into Iowa.

To kick things off, Illinois FFA hosted the Middle School Conferences. From there, the majors attended the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference, followed by a quick trip to Bloomington in central Illinois for the state livestock and horticulture career development events.

The major state officers then headed back to Springfield for Bacon Day, finishing out the stretch with the state ag mechanics, ag business management and marketing plan CDEs, along with the conduct of chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure leadership development events.

Throughout the entire month, the major state officers have also been traveling across Illinois attending chapter and section banquets as the school year comes to a close. This year alone, the majors visited 38 different banquets.

At each banquet, the major state officers deliver keynote speeches, interact with members and have the opportunity to meet incredible individuals who continuously support the FFA organization.

As middle school FFA chapters continue to grow across the state, so does the need for opportunities tailored to those members.

This year, Illinois FFA hosted two fall and two spring Middle School Conferences, with this spring’s events taking place at Sauk Valley College and Lincoln Land College.

These one-day conferences are designed to spark students’ interest in FFA and agriculture, while also helping them develop leadership skills and connect with role models they can look up to.

Following the conclusion of these conferences, the major state officers traveled to Ames for the 98th Iowa FFA state convention.

This experience gave the major state officers the opportunity to see a convention from every perspective — backstage, on stage and everything in between — before hosting the Illinois FFA convention on June 9-11.

The team was also able to observe new ideas and approaches that can be brought back and incorporated into the Illinois convention.

After returning from Iowa, the major state officer team traveled to Illinois State University in Bloomington, where the state livestock and horticulture CDEs were held.

In the livestock CDE, over 580 competitors evaluated market and breeding animals, worked through keep-cull scenarios and graded cattle on quality and yield.

In the horticulture CDE, over 230 participants identified plants, designed floral arrangements, recognized landscaping tools and completed exams covering general horticulture principles.

These contests not only allow students to showcase their skills, but also provide valuable experience for future careers.

Hosted by the Illinois Pork Producers Association, Bacon Day gives legislators the opportunity to connect with pork producers from across the state in a fun and engaging way.

Throughout the day, the major state officers delivered a variety of bacon-themed treats to legislative offices, while dressed in bacon costumes, of course. This event not only highlights Illinois agriculture, but gives everyone a chance to enjoy a taste of it, as well.

This month has also been packed with state contests. In just two days, Illinois FFA hosted three CDEs and two LDEs.

These included the state ag mechanics, ag business management and marketing plan CDEs, as well as the conduct of chapter meetings and parliamentary procedure LDEs.

Across these events, members demonstrated a wide range of skills, including welding, electricity, carpentry, surveying, ag power, business operations, marketing and effective meeting management.

Each event provides students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare them for the real world.

While the major state officers have spent much of this month on the road, any downtime has been dedicated to preparation in the office.

From creating slide shows to memorizing retiring addresses and scripts, a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes.

As the days move closer, our focus continues to shift toward finalizing the details for the 98th Illinois FFA State Convention.

The major state officers remain focused on finishing the year strong and bringing together the details for an unforgettable experience ahead.

Each mile traveled, event attended and connection made reflects the continued growth and impact of Illinois FFA members across the state.

With excitement building, we look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of this year and all that is still to come.

Ethan Bremmer from the Pearl City FFA Chapter is the 2025-2026 Illinois Association FFA state reporter.