AUDIO: Jenni Browning, American Dairy Association Indiana
Each year, the American Dairy Association Indiana honors the Indianapolis 500 Fastest Rookie to introduce new drivers to the dairy industry.
Jenni Browning, CEO of ADAI, says the organization established the award in 1975.
“It’s a great opportunity to talk to those rookies that haven’t participated in the Indy 500 before about the drink of milk and what that means,” she says. “It’s just a great way to connect dairy farming to that bottle of milk.”
She tells Brownfield drivers overwhelmingly chose whole milk in this year’s annual milk poll. ADAI polls drivers ahead of the race and they have the choice of whole, 2%, or fat-free milk.
“Our dairy farmers are big advocates for whole milk, and so are our drivers,” she says.
This year’s Fastest Rookie is Mick Schumacher, who qualified for the race with an average speed of 229.450 miles per hour. He will be driving the No. 47 car for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing on Sunday in row 9.
“I picked whole milk,” he says. “I had a friend back in the day that had cows. We had cows and we still do.”
The tradition of drinking milk as a post-race celebration began in 1936 when Louis Meyer, the first three-time winner, requested buttermilk after winning the Indianapolis 500.
The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 will be held on Sunday, May 24th.
