A Winning Drink at the 500

Farmers get ready for milk hand-off

Two Indiana dairy farmers are preparing to be the most sought-after people at the Indianapolis 500. Ken Hoeing, a dairy farmer and Farm Bureau member from Rushville, and Alan Wright, a dairy farmer from Muncie, are this year’s Indy 500 Milkman and Rookie Milkman.

Hoeing lives and works on the dairy farm his grandparents established in 1947. He and four of his brothers take care of 400 dairy cows and raise crops on 3,000 acres. He and his wife, Denise, have two children, Kim and Chris.

Hoeing will hand the coveted Bottle of Milk (once chosen as the "Sports World's Coolest Prize") to the winning driver. Wright will hand a bottle of milk to the winning team owner and chief mechanic.

The 2014 race will mark the 59th consecutive year that milk has been presented to the winner of the Indy 500.