Although Betty Lou didn't recognize it then, her business had its birth almost 28 years ago.

Betty Lou, whose children are now young adults, explains:

"About 20 years ago we quit eating sugar. I was looking for treats for my kids to take to school like the other kids, so they could have their 'candy,' too."

Having never created recipes before, she began to experiment. "I threw in some crunchy peanut butter, half as much honey, nuts, seeds, oats — that's how I started."

Apparently it was a great combination. All the kids who came around got their share of treats, too. "I had the most popular yard in the neighborhood. I was like the mother with the Kool-Aid® in the television commercial."

Kids liked them. Grown-ups liked them. And they still do — as a "naturally nutty snack," with coffee for breakfast, or even as a quick, healthy lunch. Athletes have been known to buy them for a nutritious boost of energy during training.

"A lot of parents look for an alternative to sugar items and when I looked in stores I couldn't find anything that didn't have sugar," says Betty Lou. "All our products are snacks that have no sugar."

"I never thought of going into business. Actually, it came and swallowed me up."

Betty Lou didn't attend college and has no business training. "I feel like I've had a college education since I started," she says. "I've learned so much from the mistakes that I've made."

In her favor is the fact she has always worked with the public. "I'm a people person. I've always been a self-starter. Wherever I worked I was made manager, or order clerk, or whatever. I did my best when I worked for other people and I wanted to see what I could do with my own business."

"Then, too," she says. "I have lots of good people around me. If I have doubts, they say, ‘You can do it. You'll make it.’"

With the help of them and the loyal thousands who enjoy her Golden Smacker products, she IS making it.