Dear Farm Bureau Leader and Staff,

For over a decade, Farm Bureau has been at the forefront seeking Death Tax reform. In 1996, it was Farm Bureau members who brought the issue to Congress' attention by delivering 100,000 messages to lawmakers. Key Hill leaders have told us they expect legislative action prior to Memorial Day, most likely in the Senate Finance Committee.

In 2010, we have an opportunity to seek long-lasting reform. AFBF is launching the "Put Death Taxes to Rest" campaign. If we garner the 60 votes needed, the Senate is likely to address this issue. It will take quality messages, a focused grassroots effort of Farm Bureau members and leadership to help win this issue for Farm Bureau. We are seeking quality contacts from members who have been impacted by Death Taxes, went through expensive planning or need reform in order to pass along their agricultural operations to the next generation.

The success of this campaign will require action from all of Farm Bureau, state Farm Bureau Presidents, board members, Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher committees and Women's Leadership committees to contact their Senators.

The strategy for the "Put Death Taxes to Rest" campaign emphasizes a focused engagement with Senators and Senate Finance Committee members before the full grassroots network.

Our most influential tool is personal stories. The following activities by state Farm Bureaus should tell members stories and get lawmakers attention:

• "Share Your Story" at www.fbactinsider.org. Have members with compelling stories share their experience. The more stories that are provided to lawmakers the more reason they'll have to act.
• Host a farm visit or meeting with Senators dedicated to this issue. Of particular focus between now and the Memorial Day recess period should be Senators on the Finance Committee and Senators believed to support Death Tax reform.
• Enlist Young Farmer and Rancher and Women's Leadership committees.
• Engage members at Farm Bureau meetings.
• Employ a broad grassroots campaign.

In addition to quality messages to targeted Senators, we also need to have members send emails and postcards, to visit with the Senators on the Focus List and Senate Finance Committee members.

As we work together on this campaign, we need state Farm Bureau leaders and members to engage and help us bring certainty to the future of Death Taxes, to better transfer farm operations from one generation to the next and ease the transition following the death of a family member.

We need every state Farm Bureau engaged at the leadership and membership levels.

• Estate Tax Fact Sheet
• Take Action

Bob Stallman
President