Indiana Dairy Farmers Excited to Be Part of the Indy 500 Winner Circle
A winning tradition unfolds in the midsection of the country each Memorial Day weekend as engines rev up for the biggest motorsports event in the world. As Indy cars circle the track at top speed, all eyes turn to the winner’s circle for the big splash, victory celebration.
While every sport has its traditions, the winning Indianapolis 500 driver celebrates with an ice-cold bottle of milk. The rich tradition began in 1936, which includes the winning driver taking a sip or two of milk before pouring the entire bottle on themself.
2023 Veteran Milk Man
It’s a tradition that Indiana dairy farmers get to help orchestrate. Dairy farmer Kerry Estes is looking forward to the Indy 500 winner grabbing the bottle of milk from his hands as he serves as the 2023 Veteran Milk Man for the race at the 107th Indy 500.
“It was my dream from when I was a boy to be able to be a dairy farmer,” the first-generation dairy farmer shares. “Not growing up on a farm made that reality quite a challenge. But God made my dream become a reality in an amazing but difficult way.”
Estes shares that to represent Indiana dairy farmers at the Indy 500 is a humbling, yet meaningful experience.
“It carries with it the thrill of being in the middle of such a huge event, but also the responsibility to carry the message of all the great things that dairy farmers provide,” he says.
Estes purchased his farm on a contract from an older farmer, then built their dairy operation from there.
“We have quite the startup story,” he shares. The family milks 150 crossbred cows on a hybrid grazing and confinement dairy southeast of Indianapolis.
The strong message Estes hopes to be a champion for is “Winners Drink Milk,” the same slogan that American Dairy Farmers of Indiana share.
“By shining a light on the sustainable practices that dairy farmers are already doing, how much we care for our cows, and how nutritious and safe milk is, the consuming public can see the truth of how valuable dairy is in their lives,” he says.
All of Estes's family will join him at the big race.
“My wife will be with me, and my four kids will be coming later, after they get the milking chores completed,” he says. “We do not have any hired help, so our kids getting to the race on time will be quite the challenge. But fortunately, we live very close to Indy to make it possible.”
2023 Rookie Milk Man
Alex Neuenschwander, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Bluffton, will also be at the Indy Speedway on Sunday, serving as the 2023 Rookie Milk Man, learning the ropes from Estes on how it all works.
“Obviously growing up in Indiana, I’ve always enjoyed watching the Indy 500,” he says. “After church on Sundays, we would watch the race at my grandpa’s house.”
Neuenschwander says he started taking his sons one at a time to the race a few years ago. As the cars raced around the track, his middle son told him that he should be the one that hands over the milk in the winner circle.
Estes shared with Neuenschwander that the winner circle is an electric atmosphere.
“He told me it’s mayhem and there's really no way to be ready for that,” Neuenschwander says, sharing that his job as the rookie is to hand milk to the winning team.
“I was told to find the owner first,” he adds, stating that it is a true privilege to represent Indiana dairy farmers.
“It’s just a gigantic stage for milk for dairy farmers to highlight the hard work that the men and women of the dairy industry put in every single every single day,” Neuenschwander says. “Everything that goes into the passion of dairy farming and producing high-quality milk for families and taking incredible care of our cows.”
Neuenschwander’s entire family, including boys, Adler, 15, Case, 12 and Wyatt, 8, will also be at the Indy 500 this year with his oldest son sitting in the box with him.
“My sons are teenagers, so I’ll take that moment when they think I’m kind of cool,” he says.
The 107th Indy 500 is set for Sunday, May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
