Carroll County Farm Bureau

There is so much going on all of a sudden and it is exciting!! I have talked about the Foundation scholarships, I have sent press releases out on the Foundations Books by the Bushel program, I have mentioned the Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Program, we are planning on a day trip to Chicago, and are sponsoring a trip to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Michigan. First off, I encourage you to check out our website at www.carrollcfb.org as we try to keep it as up-to-date as possible.

We just scheduled two computer classes. The Membership Action Team will be offering two classes: Intro to Word and Intro to Excel. Both classes will be held at the Eastland High School and will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Word is a word processing program. You will be able to create, edit, and format text along with learn how to use editing tools by the end of this program. The Intro to Word Class will be offered on Monday, March 8. The Intro to Excel class will cover creating spreadsheets, navigating the program, and formatting text and cells. It will be held on Monday, March 15. Cost for members is $15 per class or $25 for both classes. Non-members cost is $20 per class or $35 for both. Please contact our office at 815-244-3001 to register for either or both classes. Space is limited. We are co-sponsoring a trip to Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Michigan with Tri-State Travel August 28 through September 2, 2010. A trip preview meeting will be held here in the auditorium on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. Come preview the sights you will get to see as part of the trip. Sights include: Niagara Falls Tour, Queen Victoria Gardens, Welland Shipping Canal Toronto City Tour, Casa Loma, and more! Contact our office at 815-244-3001 to RSVP for the preview meeting. More information on the entire trip and cost can be obtained at our website at www.carrollcfb.org.

If you have not registered yet for our breast health night of pink on Thursday, March 4 from 6-8 p.m. here in the auditorium, contact our office today. We will kick off the evening with a healthier cooking demonstration and tasting. We will then hear the Hat’s Off to Health Skit, followed by basic breast health education, and a CPR refresher. You may also get your cholesterol checked free when you come as long as you have fasted for 4 hours. We are asking for reservations for this free program by Friday February 19.

The estate tax rate on both the federal and state level currently is zero for 2010 because Congress has taken no action on the matter, according to Kevin Semlow, Illinois Farm Bureau director of state legislation.

State law decoupled the Illinois estate tax from the federal law from Jan. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2009. As of Jan. 1, the state estate tax automatically was re-coupled to the federal level, Semlow noted. And as of that date, the federal rate dropped to zero.

If Congress or the General Assembly do not change the current laws before Jan. 1, 2011, the tax rate will return to 2001 levels, Semlow added. On that date, the exemption level will return to $1 million on the federal and state level because the state estate tax once again will be coupled to the federal tax, he explained.

While no one knows what is going to happen, the state government had estimated about $280 million would be collected from the state estate tax this year, but that won’t happen with a rate of zero percent, Semlow said.

Farm Bureau Classifieds

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two (2) free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales, or commercial businesses will be accepted. To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at (815) 244-3001 by noon Friday to get your ad in the following week's paper.