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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate James "Jim" Craft on the
4occasion of his retirement after many years of service in
5agricultural education; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim Craft is the son of Robert and Patricia (nee
7Tankersley) Craft; he is the third of 6 children and his family
8lived on the outskirts of Alton while he was a child; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim Craft's family moved to Assumption when he was
10in the third grade; he completed his education in the
11Assumption school system, graduating in 1971; he took
12agriculture classes at Assumption High School and was an active
13member of the FFA; he raised and sold domestic rabbits and
14raised a sizable garden, selling fresh vegetables and popcorn
15in the community; he also worked at his uncle's garage,
16learning to repair tractors, grain trucks, and automobiles; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Jim Craft served for 2 terms as the FFA Chapter
18Secretary; he was on the State Winning Poultry team in 1971 and
19represented Illinois in the National Poultry Contest; he was
20also named second place individual in the National Poultry
21Contest; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Craft entered the University of Illinois in
2the fall of 1971 and was recruited to the University of
3Illinois Poultry Judging team; the team represented the College
4of Agriculture in contests in Tennessee, Arkansas, and North
5Carolina; he earned his bachelor's degree from the College of
6Agriculture in 1975; that fall, he entered graduate school at
7Southern Illinois University, where he completed the course
8work necessary to receive his teacher's certification; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim Craft was named to the Phi Kappa Phi honors
10fraternity; during the spring of 1976, he was a student teacher
11in Patoka; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Jim Craft was hired at Bluffs High School and
13began his teaching career in the fall of 1976; he had the
14opportunity to work with many students during his years at
15Bluffs and enjoyed strong community support; along with seeing
16several students achieve their State FFA Degree, he had the
17pleasure to see 2 students serve as major State FFA officers;
18and
 
19    WHEREAS, Jim Craft served on various Illinois Association
20of Vocational Agriculture Teachers (IAVAT) committees; he went
21on to serve as the Chairman of the IAVAT Judging Contest
22Committee; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Craft was named IAVAT's Outstanding Young
2Member in 1980; he served as Section 15 Chairman for 2 terms
3and went on to serve as District III Director; he was elected
4Vice President of the IAVAT in June of 1987 and served as the
51988-1989 IAVAT President; he also served the profession by
6representing Region IV in the National Vocational Agriculture
7Teachers' Association's (NVATA) Contest Advisory Committee and
8served on the NVATA Legislative Task Force for 4 years; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Jim Craft holds life membership in the Illinois
10Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers, the National
11Association of Agricultural Educators, the Illinois
12Association for Career and Technical Education, and the
13Association for Career and Technical Education, as well as the
14FFA Alumni; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Bluffs Community Schools were Jim Craft's only
16teaching assignments; he remained there until January of 1990,
17when he was employed by the IAVAT Administrative Council to
18serve as the IAVAT Executive Director and the Illinois FFA
19Executive Secretary; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Jim Craft served on the National FFA Board of
21Directors and was involved in the FFA's decision to move the
22National FFA Center and relocate the National FFA Convention;
23and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Craft has twice served as a delegate
2coordinator for the National FFA; he has held a key role on
3several National FFA committees, including the National
4Chapter Award revision committee and the Agriculture Science
5committee; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Jim Craft has been honored with the Honorary
7Chapter FFA Degree from Bluffs FFA members, an Honorary State
8FFA Degree from the Illinois FFA members, and an Honorary
9American Degree when he retired from the National FFA Board of
10Directors; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Jim Craft went on to serve a 2-year term as the
12Eastern Region Vice President for the National Association of
13Supervisors of Agricultural Education; he currently serves as
14the SAE Chairman for the National FFA Organization; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In his spare time, Jim Craft enjoys working on his
16family genealogy; he also enjoys traveling and many outdoor
17activities, including hunting, fishing, and hiking; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Jim Craft will receive the 2015 VIP Citation for
19the National FFA Organization and the Lifetime Achievement
20Award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators
21as a special project of the National FFA Foundation; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Jim Craft serves as an example of a hard work,
2passion, and dedication; his work throughout his career has
3benefited many in the agriculture community; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
6thank and congratulate Jim Craft for his many years of service
7and wish him all the best in his future endeavors; and be it
8further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to Jim Craft as an expression of our congratulations
11and appreciation for a job well done.