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Indianapolis 500 “Milk People” are ready for race day
For 62 consecutive years milk has been center stage for the post-Indianapolis 500 race day celebration. On Sunday, May 28, Indiana dairy farmer Joe Kelsay will be waiting in Victory Circle with a bottle of cold milk to hand to the winning driver.
He says serving as one of the American Dairy Association of Indiana’s “Milk People” on race day is an opportunity to connect with consumers beyond the obvious places like restaurants and grocery stores. “Maybe it’s in those not-so-obvious places like Victory Circle at the Indianapolis 500,” he says. “In this time of interest in where food comes from and knowing about production agriculture and what happens on the farm – this is a great entrée into a deeper relationship with those consumer that we feed every day.”
AUDIO: Joe Kelsay, Veteran Milk Person
Rookie Milk Person Kim Minich of LaPorte, Ind. says anyone who follows sports is familiar with the race day tradition – and she’s thrilled to represent dairy farmers everywhere. “It’s a lot of hard work day in and day out,” she says. “So being able to highlight the fruits of our labor by celebration in Victory Circle with milk is just a big honor for us. We’re happy that dairy is a part of that.”
AUDIO: Kim Minich, Rookie Milk Person
Kelsay’s family owns and operates a dairy just south of Indianapolis where they milk about 450 cows and host more than 20,000 visitors each year. In 2015 Minich was recognized as the Indiana Dairy Producers ‘Outstanding Young Dairy Producer’.”
Louis Meyer, the first three-time Indy 500 winner, is credited with starting the Bottle of Milk Tradition when he asked for a glass of buttermilk following his win in 1933. He was photographed drinking milk after his win three years later.
The Bottle of Milk was made a permanent part of the post-race celebration by Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Tony Hulman in 1956.
The 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 will be held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 28, 2017 https://indycar500.org/