SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The enterprising teen spirit that defines Illinois’ FFA and 4-H programs was evident during Agriculture Day and the annual Ag Breakfast on the Governor’s Lawn at the 2025 Illinois State Fair. State and district leaders representing both organizations were highly visible during the Aug. 8 breakfast, with each organization promoting their 2025-26 agendas.

“We’ve chosen the theme ‘Spark’ because we believe Illinois FFA plays a huge role in sparking your interest, sparking your curiosity and sparking your future,” said Natalie Pratt, 2025-26 Illinois State FFA president, who addressed hundreds of Ag Day Breakfast attendees after being introduced by Illinois Ag Director Jerry Costello II. “We believe that FFA and the agriculture industry can really serve that place in our FFA members’ hearts, and we want to inspire them over this next year by having our theme be ‘Spark.’”

Pratt, who hails from the Amboy FFA Chapter (led by advisers Joe Heavner and Lexi Hilliker), is looking forward to carrying the spirit of the Spark theme with her during September chapter visits, which are sub-titled “Sparking Our Interest” in order to emphasize the key role of agriculture in FFA. “Our state convention theme next year is going to be ‘Sparking Your Future’ because we believe the state convention is the kickoff point for most of our members’ futures,” she said.

Pratt noted that it’s been a proud year for Illinois FFA, which is riding a wave of increased enrollment and national recognition for several of its members. Many of those members were present for the Ag Day Breakfast, helping to serve plates of steaming scrambled eggs, ham, biscuits and gravy and potatoes to those in attendance.

“Delana Erbsen is one of our state stars, as is Nevin Erbsen and Blake Twenhafel. Thaddeus Bergschneider is our past state president from the Franklin FFA Chapter, and is currently serving as our national president, which is incredible for the state of Illinois. We have an amazing group of people who are being recognized, as well as our honorary FFA American Degree recipients like Mr. Jerry Costello and (Illinois Corn executive director) Mr. Rod Weinzierl,” Pratt said.

Twenhafel, of the Wesclin FFA Chapter (Clinton County), along with cousins Nevin and Delana Erbsen, of the Eastland FFA Chapter (Carroll County), will be recognized for their accomplishments at the 98th National FFA Convention, Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Indianapolis.

Illinois Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton, who will leave her post to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026, took to the Ag Day podium to recognize the importance of investing in youth agricultural education. She noted that since Illinois lawmakers voted to include FFA membership dues in the state budget, Illinois FFA membership has nearly doubled. This has opened the doors for more students to explore careers in farming, agribusiness and ag science, Stratton said.

“WIth the help of (Gov.) JB Pritzker and (Lt. Gov.) Stratton, we have managed to affiliate our entire state, which means our dues have been paid by the government for the FFA organization, which has jumped from 23,000 to almost 43,000 agricultural education students,” Pratt said. “This is incredible for our membership, as with more members we become more of a national powerhouse FFA. We’re open to opportunities and we’re giving kids more opportunities to move forward in this industry because of more students in our association. We are currently the ninth-largest FFA organization in the nation, and we are incredibly proud about that.”

With increased enrollment and participation in Illinois FFA and agricultural education comes the need for additional qualified ag instructors and advisers, according to Pratt. “It’s not just new teachers we are in need of, we have new programs that we need teachers for. We always have the need for ag teachers and good agricultural leaders, and I think that in terms of pressure on our ag teachers, I think that with increased enrollment comes new opportunities for them,” she said.

“By having a larger membership, we’re open to more opportunities around the nation that we can send our students to such as the Washington Leadership Conference or the Next Gen Conference in the Midwest.”

The 2025-26 Illinois State FFA president advises potential FFA members to seek out their special interest within the organization because there is “literally something for everyone” with disciplines as diverse as parliamentary procedure, agricultural sales, mechanics and fabrication, and public speaking. “As the lieutenant governor said, ag truly connects us all. If you want to be involved in the next generation of our country and our world, then you need to be involved with the agricultural industry,” Pratt said.