By HOLLY GASKILL
Bluffton’s own Neu-Hope Dairy will present the coveted milk bottle to the winner of the Indianapolis 500 this Sunday.
Alex Neuenschwander, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, was chosen by the American Dairy Association of Indiana for the honor three years ago. He started as a “rookie-elect,” and then as a rookie last year, handing off a milk bottle to the chief mechanic and team owner. He’ll capstone the experience on Sunday with the winning driver in victory lane.
The Indy 500 is well-known for its many traditions in the racing world, including the winner’s wreath and singing of “Back Home Again In Indiana”, but the winning milk bottle has become one of the most famous. It dates back to 1936 when driver Louis Meyer was photographed drinking buttermilk after winning the race.
Now, the drivers can put in their pick of either skim, 2% or whole milk before the race. The milk itself is actually sourced locally in Indianapolis and is kept away for the presentation.
“We’ll have a couple interviews (where) we’ll be carrying around the milk cooler — it’s just not actually like the actual one. That’s away and locked up,” Neuenschwander said. “But people love it. They take pictures with us and the milk.”
It’s particularly special for Neuenschwander to be part of the tradition, having grown up watching the Indy 500 with his grandfather, Don Gerber. His grandfather loved the race and fostered that in the rest of the family. Neuenschwander laughed, “My grandpa loved it so much he would even be out in the parking lot listening to it on the radio over church.”
In 2008, Neuenschwander continued the family business by starting Neu-Hope Dairy on County Road 500 East, south of State Road 124 in Bluffton. However, it wasn’t until Neuenschwander had attended the Indy 500 with his sons a few years ago that he tossed his hat into the ring for the job.
“(My sons were), ‘This is awesome, Dad — if you can be that person up there doing that, that’d be really cool,’” he recalled. “And I said, ‘Yeah, I probably could.’ So actually, my son asked the CEO of the American Dairy Association, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be cool if my dad could do that?’ And she said, ‘Yes, it would be.’”
Neuenschwander was selected by the association committee that next year.
Thinking back to watching the race as a kid, Neuenschwander thinks his grandpa would be “rolling in his grave,” — in a positive sense — to know the farm was being honored in such a national way. “I don’t even know what he would do (if he knew),” Neueschwander said with a smile. “He always had a weak heart, so he probably would have a heart attack … He would be super proud.”
While a high honor, it’s not without its responsibilities. Since being selected, Neuenschwander has done numerous interviews with the media about the tradition, honor, and representing the American Dairy Association. This weekend, Neuenschwander traveled to Indianapolis on Friday, participated in the Saturday parade, and will do more interviews on Sunday morning before the race.
Neuenschwander said the dairy association prepared him for all the attention, but it’s still been a bit overwhelming. He said the crowd went wild for the dairy farmers last year during the parade, which took him off-guard. He jokingly noted that while he’s more prepared this time around, he also knows what to be more nervous about.
That said, there’s one moment he’s definitely looking forward to.
“Last year, the guy … went up and gave it to (the winner), gave him a big hug — and it was dead quiet up until that point,” Neuenschwander said. “As soon as he took that milk and started drinking it, the whole circle just erupted … it just exploded, everybody was screaming.”
Neuenschwander is also, of course, looking forward to the race itself. He and his wife, Shauna, will watch from a suite, but Neuenschwander plans to spend the time in the stands.
But most of all, it’s been a great experience to represent his local farm, Bluffton, and all of Wells County.
“It’s exciting to represent us, but then on a bigger level, I love this community,” Neuenschwander said. “We have an amazing community here in Bluffton, Wells County. I love representing this area as well. And I tell that everywhere I go, ‘Hey, I’m from an amazing community there in Bluffton.’”
holly@news-banner.com
