Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 15

i "A i i 1 SECTION Annuities C2 Cigarettes C6 Mutual 5-6 NYSE Fet On the Move C3 1990 Herald Review Decatur, Illinois fi HO Ok mt iff terasiD BMW iff- The job you save could be your own DO IT RIGHT It can save your job. This is a true story, even though the names involved can't be used. When layoffs came to a local manufacturing plant in January, one young quality control lab worker kept his job while more senior workers got unpaid vacations. Why? Because the junior worker V.J?f'. I i AW.

By STEVE CAHALAN Herald Review FarmBusiness Writer Say goodbye to Prairie Farms Trim n' Lite ice milk. So long, all five flavors vanilla, vanilla nut, chocolate, strawberry and Neapolitan. Say hello to new and improved Prairie Farms Light premium ice milk. Howdy, all six fancier flavors butter pecan, chocolate flake, almond praline, strawberry cheesecake, real vanilla and fudge nut sundae. The Prairie Farms Dairy ice cream plant at 757 N.

Morgan St. will begin making the new product in the first week in March, Plant Manager Gary Plassmeyer said. The light blue cartons of Prairie Farms Light will show up on grocery store shelves in seven states during the second week in March. The Decatur plant supplies stores in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. CARUNV1LLE-BASED Prairie Farms acquired the Decatur ice cream plant in Prairie Farms Light WHAT: During the first week of March, the Prairie Farms Dairy ice cream plant at 757 N.

Morgan St. will begin making six flavors of its new Prairie Farms Light premium ice milk. This will replace the company's Trim n' Lite ice milk. The Prairie Farms ice cream plant at O'Fallon also will make four flavors of Prairie Farms Light. DEBUT DATE: The new product should begin appearing in grocery store freezers in the second week in March.

EMPLOYMENT: Decatur plant employs 68 persons, a figure that isn't expected to be affected by the new product line. PRODUCTION: Plant makes about 30 varieties of ice cream, which account for about 85 percent of its production. Ice milk accounts for about 10 percent of the plant's production. Five flavors of sherbet account for the other 5 percent of was doing his job just as he'd been taught to do it, not skipping steps or the process. His meticulous attention to duty prevented the company on at least one occasion 1 Gary Minich 's vJlv tl dmm, hi Pulse 1977 and has been making the Trim n' Lite line of ice milk since about 1980.

Now, "We've come up with better formulas and better flavors," plant Sales Manager Gary Weybright said. Prairie Farms is joining the trend toward better tasting, more exotic and more expensive ice milk. 'Industrywide, tee cream sales are flat or declining, and ice milk and (frozen yogurt are rising -Gary Weybright, sales manager. Prairie Farms Dairy Decatur plant from having to redo a major job. Supervisors noticed.

More than half of U.S. companies expect to scale back employment in 1990, according to Right Associates, a national business polling firm. In the absence of other criteria, such diligence can help ensure you're not among those weeded out. FORMER DECATURITE J.D. Rowan has a new business.

He opened Laser Inno ice milk also has fewer calories than ice cream. Prairie Farms vanilla ice milk contains about 90 calories per 4-ounce serving, compared with 130 calories in vanilla ice cream, Weybright said. Most flavored ice milk varieties have about 100 calories per serving, compared with 160 to 170 calories in a serving of flavored ice cream. BECAUSE OF the new, more expensive ingredients in Prairie Farms Light, the suggested retail price of half-gallon paper cartons of the six varieties will range from $1.99 to $2.09, up from $1.79 to $1.89 for the old Trim 'n Lite varieties. That still will be less than the $2.39 to $2.69 suggested retail prices for half-gallon paper cartons of Prairie Farms ice cream.

"We feel that by getting into the premium ice milk and additional flavors, we'll pick up additional sales," Weybright said. Ice milk now accounts for about 10 percent of the Decatur plant's production, he said, "And we expect that to grow. "Industrywide, ice cream sales are flat or declining, and ice milk and (frozen) yogurt are rising," Weybright said. The Prairie Farms Dairy ice cream plant at O'Fallon recently began making frozen yogurt, he said. Its frozen yogurt has an even lower butterfat content, 3 percent.

"Historically, ice milk has been a low-priced product," Weybright said. "That's how come we had the common flavors." While the low price traditionally was a major factor to buyers, Weybright said, "That's not the case in today's market." Today, grocery shoppers are attracted to ice milk because it has a lower butterfat content than ice cream. There is less fat for the human body to convert into cholesterol, a substance that contributes to heart disease. Prairie Farms Light ice milk is about 5 percent butterfat, compared with 10-percent and 12 percent (depending on the flavor) in Prairie Farms ice cream. Because of the lower butterfat content, vations in Springfield Jan.2.

Rowan's company used cartridges for laser printers. are better than new, he Photo by Darrell Goemaat THEY'RE NOT HEAVY: Gary Weybright shows Prairie Farms' new ice milks. Rowan mmmm Mary Walker background JOB: Allstate Insurance agent in Decatur since 1985, sharing an office at 952 E. Eldorado St. with agent Earl Turner.

EARLY YEARS: Eldest of 10 children born to Lee and Mary Thompson in Jackson, Miss. Graduate of Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Miss. FAMILY: Married to Decatur native Robert Walker, a tire builder at Bridge-stoneFirestone's Decatur plant. Between them they have five children: Jared, 21 a chemistry major at Eastern Illinois University. Kendra, also 21 a fashion merchandising major at Tennessee State University, Nashville.

Robert E.f 19, a University of Illinois freshman and potential finance major. Duane, 17, a senior at MacArthur High School and Illinois State Scholar who expects to attend either the of I or Washington University, St. Louis. Deanna, 15, a sophomore at MacArthur High School. "We don't say his children or my children," Mary Walker says.

"They are all our children." NOTABLE: Chairman of the NAACP's Newcomers Committee, formed in 1989 to welcome new minority families to the community. and sell for about half the price of new cartridges. "Instead of looking at 4 cents a page, our remanufactured cartridges reduce costs to about a penny a page." Interested users can call Rowan at 522-8580. WHAT'S AHEAD? Tim Baker, a registered investment adviser and investment manager, sees only a one in four chance of recession this year and a 70 percent chance of a soft landing (no recession) Baker's track record since 1987 is pretty good. Early in 1988, he said interest rates had three directions to go "Up, up or up" and by the end of 1988, they were up.

Last year, Baker said gold would come down to $350 an ounce (it got as low as $355). Baker's Baker Company Advisory Group Inc. in Decatur specializes in market-timing advice for rotating assets among mutual funds. Buy and sell recommendations are based on computer models designed to detect market trends. "Trends in capital markets cannot be forecast," Baker says, but they can be detected early before everyone is aware of the start.

"Quick detection allows investors to profit from most of a market advance" and get out early if the trend is downward. MARGIN NOTES: The new ASA (Automotive Service Association) of DecaturMacon County will meet at Western Sizzlin' Steak House on Feb. 28, reminds Nick Vanderfaan of Nick's Auto Body Repair and Service. If your business involves vehicles, ASA wants you as a member. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m.

and the business meeting is at 7:30 p.m. WORDS OF WORTH: "Life is a great big canvas: You should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye, American entertainer Farmers Union names John Little, Tolono, president SPRINGFIELD (AP) John Little, a farmer from Tolono in Champaign County, was elected Saturday to succeed retiring president Harold Dodd as head of the Illinois Farmers Union, the state's second largest farm group. The union's 80 delegates chose Little to be the group's first new president since 16 years ago, when Dodd, of Loami, was elected. The outgoing president will remain chairman of the board. "My biggest challenge will be to fill the shoes of Harold Dodd," said Little, 57, who sports a handlebar mustache.

"The role of the Illinois Farmers Union and its philosophy aren't going to change. I just hope to lead it with even more enthusiasm than he (Dodd) showed." Little plans to turn the 1,080 acres he farms over to his son, and to move to Springfield. Three farmers vied for the top spot Little, Hubert Seymour of Danville and Ralph Snodgrass of Chapin. Seymour was eliminated on the first ballot and Little won on the second. "I think the fact this race has been so intense, it's renewed interest in the Farmers Union," said Little.

"My job will be to put all this together and come out with a program to take the family farm forward. I plan to give it my utmost." Little grew up on a Champaign County farm and now lives on the home place that has been in the family since 1868. He raises food-grade corn, soybeans and wheat. For the IFU, he says his top issues are increasing membership and developing more active participation, dealing with property tax relief and funding education more equitably. He is also concerned about environmental issues that could play a role in debate of the 1990 farm bill.

Little is currently president of the Cham-paign County Farmers Union and is a member of the IFU executive board. He won't officially take the reins of the farm group until April 1, when the executive board meets. "Harold is still president until April 1," said Little. "I'll be working with him to put together an agenda so we can sail our course." Other officers are Larry Quandt of Mason in Effingham County, vice president, and Jim Soeldner of Heyworth in McLean County, secretary-treasurer. Mary Walker joined Allstate Insurance Companies in 1985 as an agent By 1988, she had won one of Allstate' highest awards entrance to the Honor Ring of top agents in recognition of out' standing sales performances.

Earlier she had interrupted college to start a family. By the time she earned her degree at Tougaloo College, she had three children. After graduation, Walker and her family moved to Decatur, where she became assistant manager of the S.S. Kresge Co. downtown store in Landmark Mall.

Kresge's closed the store within 18 months of recruiting Walker. The career interruption has taken her from teacher's aide to real estate saleswoman to insurance agent How did you happen to become an insurance agent? Walker: Well, that's very interesting. One of my (real estate) clients starting talking to me about Allstate, its programs and benefits and that sort of thing. Real estate wasn't moving very well at the time (1985) and I needed a more dependable income. There was an opening in this office in Decatur.

I applied and changed careers. It's five years later: Any regrets? Walker: I'm pleased with my job. I don't think selling insurance in this day and age is easy for anyone. You have to work hard at it. But I enjoy it.

Insurance agents are paid by the amount of business they generate new policies and renewals. What was it like starting out? Walker: It was tough. When you're new to the field, people have a right to be skeptical. They don't know whether you know what you're telling them or whether you're going to be around that long. That's the hardest thing to overcome.

I've been here five years now. So people are starting to think I'm going to stick around. And they're starting to refer others tome. If one of your daughters wanted to go into insurance, what would you tell her? Walker: Well, she already knows the hours are long and you have to spend a lot of time on it if you want to be successful. But if she wanted to do it, that'd be fine with me.

Selling insurance isn't for everyone. Some people say, I can't sell But, it's not a matter of selling. It's presenting the product. If you're honest Mary Walker Honored by Allstate homemaker.) We lived in an all-black neighborhood and went to all-black schools. It was the same for everyone I knew.

But my family encouraged me to go to school. It was always expected I would go to college. That's just the way it was a "given." It didn't really matter that we were poor, or that our schools were poor. Our teachers cared. If you have a school system that cares, you can overcome a lot of other disadvantages.

And Decatur? Your children have all done very well. Walker: My children always went to neighborhood schools. I made it my business to be involved to attend PTA meetings, to be at every parent-teacher conference. If teachers know you are concerned, then they are concerned. If our (blacks') condition is to improve, then education is going to be the key.

What was it like to be learning the insurance business in which your income is directly related to the amount of time and effort you put in and being a mother of five? Walker: Not easy. But I have a very supportive husband. Robert picked up a lot of the slack taking the children to their WALKER Continued on C3 with people, if they see you are a person of integrity someone they can trust the business will come. And I make myself available: I give my clients my home phone number and let them know they can call me any time. You offer those advantages and let the customer make up his own mind.

Are your clients mostly black? Walker: Actually, I have more white clients than black. Has your race been a barrier to success? Walker: Not for me. Race has not held me back. But I think there are very few of me and a lot more people that have been held back because of race. What makes you different? Walker: My family was not well off, not even middle class.

We were poor. My father was a truck driver. (Her mother was a Gary Minich reports on business for the Herald Review..