PFC Beard oi Directora, leh to right: John 

 Sterchi. Olney; D. L. Gorber, Mt. CottoII; 

 H. B. Smith, Mt. Sterling: A. E. Meyer, 

 Moline; Secretary Thad L. Loveless, Carlin- 

 ▼ille: President Harold W. Enns, Blooming- 



ton; Treasurer Horry Gehring, Galesburg; 

 A. OliTer Bower, Champaign; H. J. Schu- 

 macher, Henry, and E. A. Fosse, Carbon- 

 dale. Chester McCord, LA.A., was absent 

 when picture was taken. 



1945 - AN OUTSTANDING 



YEAIi FOR 

 PRAIRIE FARMS CREAMERIES 



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DURINfG the past year the name of 

 the state creamery company was 

 changed to Prairie Farms Creameries 

 after a special meeting of stockholders 

 in July. Since its organization in May, 

 1933, the name of the company had 

 been Illinois Producers Creameries. 



The year 1945 was outstanding in the 

 history of the organization. During that 

 time Prairie Farms Creameries manu- 

 factured 6,338,175 pounds of butter. 

 Total butterfat purchases of 6,596,376 

 pounds are 6.52 per cent above the pre- 

 ceding year; 3,791,405 pounds of milk 

 powder manufactured represents an in- 

 crease of 47.12 per cent, and 601,740 

 pounds of cheese made is an increase of 

 147 per cent. 



Productioa of butter from milk and 

 cream sold to the cooperative by 8,162 

 member patrons at its 10 creameries 

 amounts to more than a carload daily. 



With plants located at Galesburg, 

 Henry, Moline, Bloomington, Cham- 

 paign, Olney, Carbondale, Mt. Sterling, 



Carlinville and Mt. Orroll, together 

 with a state sales plant in Chicago, 

 Prairie Farms Creameries has a total in- 

 vestment in buildings and equipment 

 of more than one million dollars. 



During the past year a new plant 

 was built at Mt. Carroll and another is 

 nearing completion at Henry. Cost of 

 both plants, among the most modern 

 and sanitary in the country, will ap- 

 proximate $200,000. 



Farmers have now invested $751,- 

 150.76 in Class "A" preferred stock in 

 these plants as of Sept. 30, 1945. The 

 net worth of each dollar invested was 

 $1.48. Since these plants were organ- 

 ized, Illinois farmers have been paid 

 $532,414.03 in capital stock dividends 

 and patronage refunds. 



Since organization, Prairie Farms 

 Creameries has maintained a strict 

 quality program. No butter grading 

 less than 90-score government grade 

 can be packaged and sold or offered 

 for sale in Prairie Farms cartons. 



Purchases of new equipment during 



1945 by Prairie Farms Creameries 

 amounted to more than $250,000. 



Earnings of Prairie Farms Creameries 

 in 1945, Manager J. B. Countiss said, 

 were such as to permit the payment of 

 a 7 per cent dividend on all outstand- 

 ing capital stock, %c per pound pre- 

 mium on 92 and 93-score butter and 

 additional patronage refunds of l^c 

 per pound on free butter handled. An 

 additional refund of 8 per cent on 

 creamery supplies purchased by mem- 

 ber creameries was made. 



Prairie Farms service program for 

 1936 has been announced as follows: 

 1. Develop new outlets and sales for 

 butter, powdered milk and cheese. 2. 

 Maintain and promote quality and uni- 

 formity of all products. 3- Maintain pro- 

 curement of milk and cream and further 

 develop facilities for handling both. 4. 

 Increase plant efficiency. 5. Develop 

 new products and new markets for 

 them. 6. Purchase supplies and equip- 

 ment. 7. Secure and train additional 

 help. 



DECEMBER. 1945 



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