the most iconic part of the Indianapolis 500. A part of kissing the bricks is drinking the milk. Synonymous with sports in Indiana. It is what people think of when they think of the great state of Indiana. I want this to become a tradition that nobody remembers not happening. Like the little brothers and the little sisters up in the stands.
The response by kids has been unbelievable. Yeah. They grab it and then once they start drinking and the other teammates are chanting, some of them will drink the entire bottle right then and there. I'm a winner because I drink some milk. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are, however you may be listening. Thanks for tuning in to the Get Indiana Podcast Network.
My name is Dominic Miranda and I've been covering sports for nearly a decade. Most of which right here in Indianapolis. This is the Get In Sports Podcast. We're going to be covering everything in the Hooser State, high school, college, pro, in the sports capital of the universe in the greatest state on planet Earth. Thanks so much for coming on this journey with us. Let's get into it.
On today's episode of Get in Sports, we have two very elite guests with us. Chris Kaufman of the IHSAA. He's an assistant commissioner and foundation president and Sherry Ship, Youth Wellness Manager for the American Dairy Association Indiana. We are talking about today the partnership between these two entities and the winners drink milk situation as it relates to high school sports in the great state of Indiana. And I've long said this, this isn't just because these two are here. Indiana does state championships and the state tournament better than any other state.
I would put my reputation on it. Now, I've heard from Texas and California, you know, whatever. But the Midwest, we do it right. And we're drinking milk. I mean, look at this. We got swag here.
I will be drinking this throughout the interview, but thank you both for joining us. I appreciate it very much. Thank you for having us. I would love to hear how this began, this partnership, and we can get into the nitty-gritty of it. And either of you can go first, Sher or Chris, but I think Chris is kind of where this began. So, how did this partnership come to be and what all is involved in it?
Share as much or as little as you'd like. Absolutely. Well, first of all, thanks for having us. I mean, this is awesome and uh you've done a great job and Well, thank you. I've been a longtime listener, first time caller. Anyway, so I've you know, one of the things we look for in partnerships at the IHSA is good fit.
Who's a good fit? Who fits with high school and what we do and who's statewide? And so, I had long looked at the dairy association. And I tried to tried to get them to be a partner before and I could never get to the right person that said, "Oh yeah, this is a good fit for what we do." And I ran into Sher at an athletic director's conference where she was speaking on the nutritional value of milk. And I went to the session and then after the session was over, I said, "I'd like to I'd like to talk about this further."
And you know, we took it from step one there. We met, we started looking at some things and there was a great fit. Mhm. It was a good fit with everything that we were doing and and I give Sherry a lot of credit because she she listened and then then I listened. There's nothing better than milk. It's a great official beverage.
It's wholesome. It's who we are. It's statewide. It's absolutely what quintessential to what we do. The one of the biggest things when people think of Indiana is the Indianapolis 500. And the most iconic part of the Indianapolis 500, a part of kissing the bricks is drinking the milk.
And that is synonymous with sports in Indiana. It is what people think of when they think of the great state of Indiana. Sher, you'll be pleased to know growing up, we not only had two gallons of whole milk in our fridge inside, but two gallons or three outside. I'm the middle of three boys. Okay. Oh my goodness.
So, yes, shout out to Angie Miranda. We appreciate you. But, uh, why was the IHSA a right partner for what you're out to do? Thank you. Yeah, just to piggyback off of what Chris said, we are also in I don't know, in the business, I guess, of partnerships. Um, we like to work with and through partners.
So, with the support of our dairy farmers, because we actually work on behalf of dairy farmers in the state of Indiana, what we want to do is create a partnership. We're not out to get our logo on a a slide or on a piece of paper or anything. What we want to do is teach others to then go out and spread our message, which is there's nothing better than like what Chris mentioned, a wholesome dairy product. And for us, it's how do we connect our community to what the dairy farmers in the state are doing? Cuz it's so much more than just you mentioned the Indy500 and how that's it's a tradition, right? And that's not something that we have to really push for.
That's IMS, you know, they know how important that is to our state. It was a very good fit. And I am very invested in youth and nutrition. And as a dietitian, you know, I've always talked about how important it is to start that, you know, students with a good foundation so that they'll build healthy habits and start start early basically to try to prevent bad diseases as you get older. Yeah, absolutely. Bone strength.
My brother broke his collar bone back in the day riding bike on a gravel road. My mom just said, "You're fine." I mean, we we went to the doctor, okay, she no neglect. She just right here fed him milk and the doctor's like, "Okay, I don't know what is going on, but this healed great." And there's this big mass of calcium just right here healing the whole thing. It's very important is my point.
Okay. Drinking milk youth. I mean, I turned out okay. And I drank milk every day growing up. But what where did the winners drink milk? Was that Indianapolis 500 inspired?
Was it just a seamless fit? Was that a your creation? How did that come to be as as it relates to high school state championships? Chris mentioned it's quintessentially Indiana. So, you know, this started back in the 1940s at IMS with um Louis Meyer. And I'm sure I don't know if you know the whole story, but No, please tell it.
Tell it. Tell it. Um so, back in 19 in the 1940s, Louis Meyer, I think it was his second win. He was a three-time winner. His second win, he requested a glass of buttermilk after his win. Okay, now people don't drink buttermilk anymore.
It's typically just for baking, cooking, whatever. But he had learned from his mom that that was going to be the best thing to quench his thirst. Well, she was very like wise beyond her ages because it's actually scientifically proven to be one of the best things you can have for recovery because of the carbohydrates, protein, electrolytes. It's over 80% water. So, it's a really great beverage for refueling. So, that was caught on camera or somebody took a picture of it of him drinking it and that's what happened ever since.
And I think it wasn't until like the 1950s possibly that it became, don't quote me, um, that it became an actual like tradition that happened at every Indy500 race. Got it. And so when you see a champion on an international stage drinking milk as part of their celebration, why not have the champions in high school sports doing the same thing in Indiana? And then for us, it's a lot of people don't know this, it's an act, it's an Indiana farmer who hands the milk to the driver. Yes. Okay.
And that's a whole process. That's like a three-year commitment for the farmer. Really? Absolutely. So, it's a big deal for them and it puts them on that international stage. Like, it's not just about the bottle of milk.
It's about the fact that that those farmers are out there doing this every single day, working hard just like those drivers are to prepare for for their races. We try to actually emulate that and get our farmers in Indiana to go to the championship games as much as we can, right? They're very busy people. Yeah. I don't know if you know this, but like cows don't stop milking, right? No, I It's a fascinating process to me.
Farmers are they have my respect forever. Yeah. You know, and and it fits into the community part. High school sports are all about community. Yes. And these guys are they're they're fabric of their community.
Yeah. And I've learned a lot in this whole partnership because there's a lot that goes into making milk. I mean, obviously the cow, but you got to you know, it's got to be it's got to have good nutrition in it. And uh to get those standards takes a lot of work by those farmers to make sure they're they're feeding the right feeds. And I mean so there's a whole process that I've learned. Yeah.
I'm grateful to them. And you know what? They have so much fun at it too. What better than sport. I mean sports are the best. And like he mentioned about community.
I love it when I'm there and like they look like celebrities because a lot of what I try to do is fit the farmer with whether it's the school that's there or if the championship's happening in their in their area or whatnot. and they'll see people that they know from their town and they're like waving at them from from up in the stands and like hollering at their names. It's just fun. It's just so cool. Okay, so last year was the first year of this partnership and if I'm correct, winners drink milk at every state championship. We did.
We didn't start off that way. Okay, we started off with the idea that we were probably just going to do it for team sports because we didn't know exactly how we were going to pull this off, right? Um and so beginning in the very beginning, we didn't do it for every fall sport, I don't believe, but we incorporated it. We figured it out. We figured out the solution. And I I got to tell you, yeah, the response the response by kids has been unbelievable.
Yeah. Unbelievable. And and even to the point where I think in the basketball championship, they're starting to get even savvy with Oh, yeah. Uh you know, they want to show the logo and you know, it it's it's pretty amazing what they do. Yeah. So, what what have you seen?
I mean, explore that deeper. Just when you go to football, basketball, baseball, swimming, track and field, and they just have the best moment, something I've never experienced, winning a state championship, best moment of their lives to that point. We're talking 15 to 18year-old kids. Okay, this is like the mountaintop. They just won a state championship. They're going to remember it forever.
So, they're already elated. And then you have this cool new feature like you get to drink the milk or splash the milk. I don't know what they're doing. We We don't encourage the splashing of the milk. Well, the goal is for them to get the nutrition and go through the recovery. ingest the milk, drink it, no splashing whatsoever.
What has that been like to see their faces light up and and just really lean into this? Well, it's a process. So, we we model it. I I called Sherry and said, "I I want to model it just like the 500." So, uh Brandon Baxter, my my assistant, and uh he puts out a form and every school fills out who their milk drinker is going to be, okay? Should they win?
Who's going to drink the milk? And what kind what kind of milk would you prefer? Okay. So, we we we strive to fulfill their order, if you will. Yeah. And so, after the end of the game, we we we go up to the milk drinker and I say, you know, that you're the one chosen.
You ready to do this? Absolutely. So, the farmer comes out, presents them their bottle of ice cold milk, and it turns into a little bit of a fraternity. Uh the kids gather around and scream and yell, and it's it's a lot of fun. Yeah. Yeah.
What's been your reaction to the reaction to to the to the leaning into this all? I think um for me it's I have been to a couple or have seen videos where the kids start a little bit. I don't know. They're they're not sure. They grab it and then once they start drinking and the other teammates around are chanting and yelling and like saying chug chug like that situation. I mean it just they some of them will literally drink the entire bottle right then and there.
Love that. It's cool. Yeah. And yes, and I will say too, I know he mentioned, well, I don't know if you said this yet, but they have been the best partners. Yeah. Because we don't I don't have to worry, is the milk going to be cold?
Is it going to be there? Are they going to hand it off, right? They're they're doing us justice, I guess, if that's how you could say it. Um, yeah. So, because we can't always be there. We're a very small team working on on behalf of the farmers.
So, just knowing that they're representing it so well is really it's kind of like a weight off my shoulders. And then also I love to look up at the stands and watch everybody or in the field or whatever because for me it's I want this to become a tradition that nobody remembers not happening. Right. Right. Just like Indy500. Like it's just what happens when you win a state championship.
And like I want like the little brothers and the little sisters up in the stands. That's what I want them to want to do. Like I want to be on a championship team and drink that milk. But also, you know, like you mentioned, we don't want people throwing the milk all around. No. So I mean again, no, don't do that.
Correct. Yes. So we do and I we have started doing some education pieces too. Okay. Cuz you know we want people to understand yes it is a really cool trophy but also this is why we want people to to really which the bottle has turned into a trophy. Look at this.
We're keeping this. Well that's even a replica. They get they get a glass one. They get a glass one. Okay. Except in swimming.
Except in swimming. That's right. Can't have glass uh down there at the Okay. So, seeing how people have loved this and it feels like a very fruitful partnership between these two organizations, how excited are you moving forward that this is going to be something that's a staple of Indiana high school athletics? I think it's I think it's made itself a staple already. Um, I mean, the biggest question we had is it presented before the trophy or after the trophy?
I see. I mean, that was actually a tough question. We That is a tough question. We kind of experimented both ways. So, it is very interesting, but it's already become a fabric. I mean, they talk about it as soon as they get there.
Who's drinking the milk? You know, I can't wait to drink milk. Yeah. And and I think it's just become synonymous with champion. Milk and champion. Yeah.
They go together and and it's because of the 500 and it's because of their hard work. They're a tremendous partner. Yeah. They bought into this and it's it's exceeded our expectations and I would probably say that it's exceeded theirs. Yeah. So, this won't be going away anytime soon.
No, sir. We love milk. Yeah. What would you tell people because again you mentioned the education piece, right? What would you want people to know whether it just be about the American Dairy Association in Indiana or what the deeper goal here is beyond just drinking the milk when you win a championship that you mentioned? Right.
So I guess the deeper goal for me as a as a dietitian and working on behalf of dairy farm families is I want people to understand great nutrientdense product milk is you know not I mean people think of it as a a children's drink I think because your mom puts it in front of you like you mentioned you always have milk but kids have so many choices now and there are so many different beverages out there that are made from I don't even know what like you walk into a gas station and there's 8 million different energy drinks and and they're adding things to it and really it's kind of mimicking what milk already does. And you look at the the label on milk and it doesn't have anything on it except milk, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Mhm. Because everything's already in the milk. There's 13 essential nutrients and that means there are nutrients that your body can't make on its own. 13 essential nutrients in just one glass of milk.
Wow. I mean, calcium, everybody knows calcium, building bones, things like that. But it's a it's got eight grams of high quality protein. Really? Yeah. There you go.
And that's one thing. protein is king right now, right? And that's never going away either because I don't know how somebody could find anything wrong with protein, right? Um, so, you know, just knowing that literally one carton of milk that they get at school is 8 g of protein right then and there. So, I'm hoping that like talking about it through athletics is also going to trickle down, right? Um, because what happens is as kids around this age, they drop off in their in their drinking of milk and their eating of fruits and vegetables.
So, you know, we just need to get back to the basics. Yeah. They go off on their own and then who knows what happens. You wouldn't want to talk to 18-year-old Dominic Miranda. I'll tell you that much. And I've actually, now this is funny.
I've talked to several athletic directors and coaches who have said to me, I wish that somebody had talked more about what we were putting into our bodies because they can think back and and be like, you know, I didn't feel good often like after a run or after a performance or whatever, and they didn't know why. So hopefully that's kind of where we're going to be. There you go. You know, my wife is pleased to know that I'm getting a glass of milk today. She's very into the Yes. the protein and what we're putting in.
I'd be lost without her. Chris, what has the IHSA or you personally learned from this partnership that maybe you didn't know going in? Oh my gosh. First of all, I knew the nutritional value a little bit, but um I did not realize how hard farmers work. Yeah. Isn't it incredible?
She said it's 24 hours a day. It is. Yeah. They don't they don't get I mean, it's Christmas morning. Yeah. Well, the cows still got to be milked.
Yeah. You go on vacation, somebody's got to milk the cows. Yeah. You know, you come, you miss the evening milking and somebody's got to fill in for them while they're presenting our milk at our state finals. But how hard they work to do that. Yeah.
And and the other thing is how real they are. I mean, they really, you know, we talked about community, but they are a fabric of the community. Yeah. And and our kids appreciate it. You know, we've had some student leaders who grew up on dairy farms and they really bought into this. They were like, "This is going to be awesome."
Yeah. I it's it's it's about the fit and and not to toot their own I will toot your Yeah, please go ahead. So they're also working with schools to get in coolers uh to put milk in schools so the kids can get it after working out. Yes. Recovery. Oh, I would have loved that.
Um so I mean there's some steps we're taking and yes I think the biggest part of this is they need they want to make sure that you understand the nutritional value of money. Yeah. And I I love the the community aspect again. something that I think the IHSAA and Indiana as a whole when it relates to sports does so well and Sherry to have that platform of you're trying to get this message out and sports is such a driver of eyes in the state of Indiana. Well, everywhere I mean right everyone loves sports, high school sports in particular, but to have this outlet of we know a lot of people are going to be looking and just to have this added, you know, situation where everyone's looking at state championships and it's every state championship. It's not just football.
It's not just basketball, you know, the big sports, but it's the it's the swimming and the track and field. How meaningful was that to getting this done that again sports is such a driver and you're looking to educate as many people as you can. It just seems like it was a it was a match made in heaven. And yes, you mentioned that and that was actually like what won us over, I guess you could say. So 92 counties, the entire state, we have farmers all over the state. Yeah.
So it's again like you mentioned, it just makes sense. They're a very reputable organization and and we and that's important to us. You know, we want to partner with with people who again we align with. So, we knew we knew we were going to get I mean I was You were pretty fired up from the beginning. Oh, very so fired up. Yeah.
And it was just about trying to figure out how to make it work, but it's it's worked out far better than we could have even Have you seen the farmers react? Oh, they love it. So, I actually had um one of our farmers, she I think she presented, he was either at softball or baseball this past spring and she's like, "Okay, I'm doing every sport. We have to figure it out." Like, but I will tell you, he mentioned before that they work all the time. So, fall sports are hard because uh a lot of dairy farmers also grow their own feed.
I see. So, they're chopping now, right? And I've seen them. Yeah. So, trying to get that organized is a little bit difficult, but they do like I have a signup sheet actually. really that gets sent out in our farmer newsletter.
So, the interest is high. Oh, yes. Absolutely. Very high. And they're sad when they can't make it. Yeah.
But it's Yeah. And I just because it's something that they work hard for every single day and it's just it's it makes them so proud. Yeah. I mean, just as as proud as they are when they get to hand the milk to the driver. Yeah. You know, it's just that's a big moment.
People who too often and unfortunately don't get the shine that they deserve. Yes. Not used to being in the spotlight, which is why that Do they get nervous? Yes. Especially for the 500, I bet. Absolutely.
Well, that's why it's a three-year program. We have a So, it's the same farmer for three years. Is that what I'm hearing? No. Okay. Explain that.
Okay. This is good. So, we'll have the uh rookie elect person, then we have the rookie milk person, and then we have the veteran milk person. Whoa. Yes. So, you started as a rookie elect, and you're kind of just shadowing.
Okay. Kind of trying to see how it all works out. Uh and then you are the the rookie. This year is Brian Rexing. No, actually this year, this May in 2027, we'll be uh he'll be presenting the milk to the driver, Brian Rexing. Last year was Ashley Stockwell.
Um but they kind of shadow each other and we also do media training. Really? So they take a full day of media training. Yeah. And uh because you, like you mentioned, they're working on a farm all day long. They're not used to being in front of cameras.
And this is not national. We're talking international. So, not only does our director of communications, Brooke, she like takes them around and makes them comfortable and and makes sure that they're being treated well and like everything's going well for them, but they'll also get calls like just random like, "Hey, can we come out to your farm?" So, they have to welcome people onto their farm. I see. So, and that's personal because a lot of them live there, right?
So, you're welcoming people into your home. Yeah. And it's gotten I think it's gotten a lot more interest. Yeah. They've done a great job of marketing the whole thing. There's no question about it.
That's that's super intriguing. So you were by the time and I'm assuming and I don't know this but cuz you mentioned what a big deal it is and they're they're not used to being in the spotlight but when the second you step foot into IMS it's like oh my gosh this is a big deal and they're like famous right I mean people know who they are they wear their their white um button-up shirts and they've got like the logo and everything on it and yeah I mean is it a lot of their first times at IMS or have some of them? Yeah. Um, but oftent times, you know, they've been because we know they're coming up through the the three-year thing. So, so they're ready. When it's their moment, they are ready to roll.
I I think they are. You can tell they are. Yeah. Yeah. This is so cool. This is just a really cool thing and I'm so happy that this partnership has worked out so well for both of you.
Um, for either of you, is there anything else you'd want to mention just about this partnership or the American Dairy Association or the IHSAA? I'd love to see what else you have. Well, you know, partnerships are important for our organization because they help us give money back to schools. So, people often ask, you know, you have all these partners and where does that money go? Well, that money goes back to schools. Yeah.
We we're we're one of only, I believe, two states that give money back to schools. Really? So, we give away $3 million in reimbursement back to schools last year. Now, when you divide it by 426, it I mean, obviously, but we reimburse for state expenses. We don't charge you we don't charge a fee to be a member of the IHSAA. We don't charge you a fee to enter a tournament with the IHSAA.
We pay all the tournament expenses and then we return your money. I see. So we are the I I there's just not a lot of states that do that. No. It's it really is special what the state of Indiana does for high school athletes. Um but we couldn't do it without partners.
Exactly. And that was another selling point for us. Yeah. Knowing that in the proposal like that this is how the money gets spent. So that's really cool. That's really cool.
Why I ask all my guests, I want to ask both of you, what makes sports special in Indiana. Community for me. Yeah, it's about community. It's still about playing for the name on the front. Yes. Versus the name on the back.
Yes. It it is I mean I played in it. I grew up in it. And I got to tell you, it means a lot to those communities. And And I don't want to lose that. And we, you know, we we've got a lot more transfers now.
And part of that's a trickle down. And that can erode community a little bit if you're not careful. But, uh, I think in Indiana, people still understand it's about community. We do. Um, and and we got to keep that. Yeah.
Well, this and this is a part of that, right? I mean, you mentioned how when you're talking about high school sports, farmers, and like the community piece ties it all together. And I think that's why this partnership makes so much sense and again with Indiana. Um, but Sherry, I mean, you're you're around sports quite a bit. What What do you see that makes it so unique in this state? I think well I community for me I mean I grew up in Brownsburg um and Bulldogs very good this year for big week.
Yeah I know and that and back to your point like we are like we are ready for this and we are so excited and like all the kids get involved from kindergarten to to high school. Parents are already marking off their spots for tailgating. I mean it truly is a community thing. Um you know parades about ready to happen. And then also for me it's just sports and I don't know if this is just in Indiana so I apologize but they they're just part of something. Yeah.
Like for me that's what's so important like all of my children I don't you know push for sports but just for something to be a part of. Exactly. I want you to have you know those that kind of camaraderie and to me that's just so important and obviously like moving your body right that's part of wellness and youth wellness is our thing you know making sure you stay active and that you're fueling for that. So yeah it's really cool. I can't tell you how many people who sat here when I asked that question. It is the community aspect of it.
And I and I really do think that is unique to Indiana. And I'm not so sure that's the case in all states, right? And how much pride people take from being here and anything big that happens in the world. There's almost always an Indiana connection. Almost always. That's amazing.
So, it's just really cool. Um, and I had I bet you were pumped that the first year you did this partnership, Brownsburg won the state championship. Well, yes. And here's what's funny. I It's was bad weather that night. It was snowing.
It was horrible. And one of our farmers was coming down from northern Indiana to present. Well, she didn't show up. Oh, no. So, darn. I had to present.
Oh, shoot. I know. To my to my Brownsburg team. So, that was really fun. How fun is that? I mean, that is per That's written in the stars right there.
That's really great. Well, thank you both for coming on. This has been really cool just to explore the behind the scenes of this partnership and how much Well, here. Well, I got to drink milk on camera. There you go. We need to get you on a farm.
That's I'm a winner. That'd be great. That's our next trip. All right, Nate Spangle and I were coming to a farm. You heard it here first. And I'm kind of, you know, I'm sad we get to miss Nate today cuz I was going to talk some Dep.
I know. I mean, tickets on sale for the Monan Bell, baby. Will you be there in my maybe? Um, I will be there. All right. He's going to be there.
Fantastic. He wore Depaw hat and everything. Absolutely. That's really cool stuff. I would be here in a minute. I You know, Jake, I'm sorry.
Jake, Mr. Gilbert. Coach Gilbert. Yes. Going to have to be on the other side of that. Yeah.
Just going to have to I see Jake Gilbert everywhere. I haven't had the heart to say something to him yet. Great guy doing a great job, but for that week, sorry. Yeah, I know. Now, yeah, maybe I I'll muster up the strength to say something to him here shortly. But, uh, Sherry Ship and Chris Kaufman, thank you both so much for your time.
This has been really, really cool. This is the Get In Sports podcast. Follow us, get in sports, do TV, and, uh, learn about why drinking milk is important. And I'm a winner because I drink some milk. Yes, you are. So there you go.
Thank you so much for joining