Welcome back to this episode of Get In. Today is Friday, September 19th, and we have another special episode for you. Uh, today we're going to be inviting Carly Oakley into the studio where we talk all things 811 Foundation and a very, very special Octoberfest that is coming to Broadripple. It's going to be incredible. You're going to want to be there. Uh, I think I'm actually hosting I think I signed myself up to host a a charity beerstein holding contest sponsored by Hope Plumbing.
It's going to be great. Super super fun there. We're talking all things Oktoberfest and her journey through uh organ transplant. It's it's a very very powerful story. Uh after that, we're going to be talking with Nicole Pence about fun activities to do around Indiana with your kids. Uh I I don't have kids, but if you have kids, you're definitely going to want to make sure you hit that part.
And we're rounding out the episode talking with Lark Ranch. You may have seen them. They've been going viral recently for uh their corn maze featuring the late Jim Ers. It's an incredible, incredible piece of art that was created. We'll be talking through Lark Ranch's growth from Lagod up to Greenfield and then I think down in like Jeffersonville, too. We're going to we're about to get into that interview.
Uh it's a great episode today. Happy Friday. I hope y'all are enjoying it. Please shoot me a DM. Let me know what you like, what you dislike, who you want to hear on these type of episodes as we, you know, just continue exploring all the great things that Heret has to offer. Let's get into this episode and this exclusive interview with Carly Oakley from 811 Foundation.
Carly Oakley is the executive director of the 811 Foundation and a driving force behind its mission to support local nonprofits and bring the community together through unique events like the upcoming annual October Fest. She is a kidney transplant recipient turned advocate. Carly has dedicated her career to building culture at 811 Group while channeling its success into meaningful impact across Indiana. She's recognized in IBJ's 40 under 40. She continues to blend leadership, philanthropy, and passion into her work. Today we're going to be covering all the great things that the 811 Foundation is doing and we're going to be talking about the hottest new event coming right here to the Village of Broadripple, your guys' October Fest.
Carly, welcome to Get In.
Wow. Thank you. That's coolest intro I've ever had.
There we go. Come on. Uh I'm really excited that you made the tumultuous long journey across the alleyway.
It was like hours of walking.
Hours. I think it took 30 seconds.
Yeah. And there we go. Well, hey, we're we're glad you made it over. Obviously, we've been hearing all the news here in Broadripple that October Fest is coming to the village. We're going to get into that. We're going to get into that and we're going to talk about all the great stuff to expect from this event. But before we talk about what's going on with Oktoberfest, we need to learn about the foundation and the company and the people that are making this thing happen. Talk to us. What is the 811 Foundation? Previous guest Ryan Hasbrook. Obviously uh you know 811 we we learned that side of the business. We did not hear uh that much about the foundation. So talk to us about what what the foundation is.
Absolutely. So I launched the foundation in January of 2023 and the goal was to bring three different pillars together that could really support and lift up lives not only in our company but in our communities nationwide. So we have brick and mortar buildings in 34 cities nationwide and a big goal of that is to expand our net to expand our community outreach and to impact lives in a bigger and broader way. So one of the pillars that is is a really important piece of this is our education pillar and we start with inner city kids that they bring into a school called Crystal Ray. The network is big. Are you familiar with them
baby? They're coming on the show soon.
Really? Who do you have? Fred Yi.
Uh Fred and
Tyler Mayor.
I think it's Tyler. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
I'm very excited.
I sit on the board for Christo Ray as well.
It's one of the coolest high school experiences uh in the state, maybe across the country. It's very, very cool.
Totally agree. And when I met Fred and Tyler, I knew that that was such a big important piece of the foundation. So, they take these kids, they bring them in, and they change the trajectory of their lives. starting freshman year in high school. So, they come once you are a corporate work study program partner, those kids come into our facility into headquarters every single day um one day a week. We have freshman, sophomore, juniors, and seniors and they sit with us and they learn the tricks of the trade.
Freshman in high school coming into a corporate wild. It is that's pretty crazy.
They have to give a capstone at the end of the year to us. I could not like I just would not be I as a freshman I was not in the place where I could have gone into an office and like not made a fool of myself. So kudos to those kids.
Kudos to those kids is right. They're pretty incredible. And so a big portion of that was we hire oftentimes directly from colleges within our four walls. And so starting with young minds and getting them amped up even from a freshman in high school was a big part of our why. And I think that uh a big piece of what makes uh Providence Crystal Ray so cool is a lot of times uh some of the the kids that are, you know, going through this program, going through this high school, like their parents maybe didn't go to work in an office. Like I think about growing up in rural Indiana like you either you worked in like your parents either worked in the factory or they worked in the office of the factory, but I didn't know anyone who had a remote job.
I didn't know anyone who knew anyone who worked in tech. So like when these kids come in and they get to get exposed to these different types of career paths and different opportunities, they can just like conceptualizing and seeing it is probably just as important if not more important than like are they, you know, what what are they doing for the company or whatever.
Agree. Agree. And I that is one of the coolest pieces of it is to hear at the end of the year at their capstone what their takeaways were. Oftentimes we think what we're giving them might even be different what their actual takeaway is. So, so that's been a pretty cool piece of it.
Yeah. And I think the the one thing I want to talk through uh with the listeners is what a a nonprofit looks like versus a foundation. And I think that that that's a piece that that kind of like a switch that flipped for me. So, as a foundation, you guys like you have different pillars and you support that through grants and through different things and ways that you fund other nonprofit organizations. Is that how that works?
You got it.
So, it's almost like you're a a philanthropic investor. You're right.
Okay. Versus like a nonprofit might be like we help uh do this specific thing
in a certain channel.
Yeah.
Um and it was really important for us to expand that net a little wider. And so we launched the three pillars with that very much in mind. It also helps the board who it's none of our full-time jobs side fund hustle um of impact. And so it really helps the board narrow that scope. You have something come in that's outside of those three pillars. It's easier to say, "Sorry, we're supporting these missions." Yeah. Not this.
Like every nonprofit or everything that comes in, they'll give you, you know, the the pitch, the story, like we get tons of them in. And it's like, "Oh my gosh, I want to help everyone. Like, I want I would love and and being able to make the biggest impact for our community." It's like, you know, you have to have your set three pillars or your your piece there where it's like, hey, we're really focused on driving this forward, this forward, and this forward. And yeah, can help you make a bigger impact in those areas. What are your three pillars?
Absolutely. So our three pillars are the people of 811. So the people that work inside our four walls nationwide. Um we have almost a thousand people um that work internally for us. And so in times of catastrophe, tornado, house fire, something really hard, kidney transplant, that was a a big reason why that part was important to me. We give six weeks paid leave to anybody that's an organ donor um in the company. So that's really cool. somebody going through cancer, leukemia, and just a little way to help them feel like they're supported in a different way.
Yeah. Well, talk to us then through like was your experience with the health care system and your like uh the adversity that you faced there, did that help spark launching the foundation?
It did. I wrote the mission statement and and we did a lot of this actually while I was laying at home in recovery from my transition.
Yeah. Well, tell tell us about for people that that might not know this part of your story, what happened.
I was born with only one kidney and you can live with one kidney obviously. Um, but I got Epstein bar virus when I was 22 and it took them about a year to figure out what that is. Basically, it's a form of mono, but it happens to affect your kidneys.
So, it causes lesions in your kidney. So by the time they figured out what I actually was experiencing, I was at about 50% function in the one kidney that I had.
Oh no.
Several years of working with homeopathic doctors and trying to stay as healthy as possible. Obviously took me, you know, a really long way before I had to get a transplant, but I knew at some point it was inevitable, especially after I had two kids. It really did a number
on my organ. And so, um, I found out actually in, uh, 2020. Well, it was October of 2020. And I found out that it was time that I was at 20% function, which meant that I was going to go on a national donor list. And my doctor said to me, you were otherwise completely healthy. I would really like for you to be an advocate to get a living donor so that you're not in the list. Taking kidney from somebody else that could get it or an otherwise typically unhealthy kidney from a deceased donor.
Yeah.
And so I did. That was really hard. He said, "My biggest piece of advice is to go on social media, tell all your family and friends that you need a kidney and have people fill out a form." And it took me about three months to even be able to talk about it because it wasn't like I was posting on Facebook that I needed a babysitter on Friday night.
Yeah.
So, I decided not to go the social media route. I sent an email to exactly a hundred people, family and friends, sharing my story for those that didn't know it and listed the form down below and said, "If you feel compelled to get tested, I would be forever grateful."
Wow. How many responses came from that email? Uh, it makes me tearary saying this. Um, 89.
Oh my gosh. 89 people.
Yeah. Which was really humbling and really amazing.
What ended up being whose kidney?
Oh my gosh. I didn't know we were going to talk about this today. I would have taken my no cry pill. Um, it ended up being one of my best friends, Jenny Deppen, who our daughters are best friends.
Shout out.
Yes. And um, and I knew who was in it. A lot of people said, "Hey, I'm in the running." or I just got I just got banned because I had high cholesterol or I just you know there were all these weed out processes.
Yeah.
We got to tap you know the top 10 and I knew all of them but one. We got to five. I knew all of them but one and she asked me to go to dinner which is a little unlike her. Normally I'm the planner. She's not. And so I thought maybe my daughter did something she needed to tell me.
Oh no. Oh.
Um, and she shared with me that she was in the top two and was getting fully tested the next week. Blood, everything, organ placement, all of that. And so, there were two in the running and she's like, I I'm finally telling you cuz I'm going to win.
Oh my gosh.
So, she went and her kidney um was a perfect fit. The doctor said he's actually never seen a more perfect match.
I mean, that mean I mean, you talk about destined to be lifelong friends.
Yes. We just I just got back yesterday from a girls trip with her.
The perfect Yes. The perfect match. It's very interesting. So my mom's side of the family, six so five brothers, one daughter and grandpa. Between the seven of them, seven of them I think they shared seven kidneys.
What?
My oldest uncle got a transplant from my grandpa.
Yes.
Like something happened. So he gave up one of his grandpa gave up one of his kidneys to his oldest sons. One of I think the third I I'm going to get all the but one brother shared with another brother and one brother shared with my mom.
Wow.
And they all like it just ended up being matches down the road for family and everything. And so I think between I think it was eight kidneys between six seven people something like
that is incredible. I'm a huge advocate for living donors. There's just and and Jenny's doing great. She's ran like two marathons since and and in great health. Um and oddly she thanks me because she says when she went and got tested her doctor told her she couldn't take ibuprofen anymore and she had taken it a ton because she's a runner for her knees.
Yeah.
And he said it's not good you know for your health. Let's stop taking it. And so she's like you saved my life. And I'm like oh girl no you saved my life like figuratively and literally.
What does that and we're going to get into because obviously taking care of your people. This is your story of of how you needed like you taken care of, you know, like and being vulnerable. So it it's so much easier I think in life to be the helper.
Yeah.
You know, like when you get to go and someone has a flat tire and they call you like I love that personally.
Yeah.
When someone's experiencing a hard a difficult time. I think Hoosiers love to step in and help people. What did it mean to you to have a close friend step up in the biggest way?
Yeah. I can't even describe it. I mean to give an organ is one of the most selfless things that you can ever do in life. And she did it without hesitation. It was the most selfless act ever. I always tell her never not grateful. So we do a we do a Friendsgiving every single November where we all there's a group of 11 of us girls that do everything together and we do a Friendsgiving really around her. She doesn't like me to say that, so I pretend it's not for her, but it is.
It's for you, Jenny.
It's for her. We do girls every year, so just got back yesterday from that. I think one of the best things about that is, like you said, pouring into your people and to have friendship just at the center of all that. And that's one thing that I've really tried to do with this foundation is make it very much a family tight-knit supporting effort.
I think that's special. I think a lot of there's a lot of good pillars, you know, there's like from education to homelessness, food insec of big things that you could do, but to include one of the pillars being, hey, we take care of our own, like we take care of our people. That's huge. Yeah,
I love that. Okay, wait. So, we literally made education.
Education, your people.
Yep. And social conscious.
Okay.
So, a big part of that is we have day of service every single year. Um 811 group has day of service and we locally do a ton for the community. So there's a resume writing critique class happening at Christa Ray. We do a lot of the local cleanup. We do the Monon Trail. We've got several things planned here locally that day. We get we invite clients and consultants to be a part of that. And then nationwide we've got everybody serving the exact same day. So, it's the only time that 811 Group is basically shut down as an organization and everybody is servicing their communities in every state.
Heck yeah. What are you doing?
Which is amazing. Um, so I will be at Crystal Ray. I'm going to be a big part of that mentoring and and that part, but I also will be in the back lot at the Vogue getting it ready for
October Fest.
I'll pop out. We'll have our get Indiana. We'll have our day of giving and then we'll do the same. We'll come out and help with October Fest.
That'd be great. We'd love to have you.
We'll get that on the calendar.
Perfect.
Um, okay. So, social say what was it called again?
Social conscious.
Social I'm not gonna be able to say that.
That's okay. Conscious.
Conscious. There we go. Where did it get to the point? I feel like a lot of companies have days of giving. They have this. Where did it get to the point where you thought, you know what, we need to have this foundation and and it needs to be this standalone entity outside. Well, inside, but outside like a separate foundation.
Yeah. It's not owned by 811 Group. it is a completely separate entity. But so a lot of times people will say, "Well, why did you name it the 811 Foundation when it has nothing to do with it?" The reason that that was really important to me is because I I really wanted our people to feel like they had a home base for community outreach and and making an impact. And so they're able to even take donations out of their paycheck from the day they start here. So they can say, "I'd like a dollar taken out of my paycheck and put into each pillar once a week." And so it's a way for them to give back directly from their paychecks, which is a really cool opportunity.
Yeah.
And a big reason why I felt like it was so important to tie it to the organization is because we have offices everywhere. So to expand that net, to expand the reach, to expand the community outreach from the education pillar and be able to get those kids into all of those offices was a really important piece.
October Fest is what we're going to get into just a just a second. But previous to that, you uh you guys have done other like big events. If anyone doesn't know what we're talking about, there is a
massive new building that has gone up in in the heart of Broadripple here, and that is the 811 headquarters. Uh it's like a little bit south of the Vogue, like a block. Um you guys did a huge event there. Was it your gala?
Well, so last year, yeah, we did um it was called Around the 811 Universe. Oh.
And we had different vendors come in and we So every floor was different cocktails, different food vendors. Um, so around the 811 universe, not only was to show our building and invite the community in to see it, um, but to be a part of making an impact while having a really great time on your own. So, it's a night of service and a night of giving back to the community, but also a night of fun. We have fun over there. I'm sure you know that.
No, I have never heard of that. Never.
No, we do have fun over there.
And with a rooftop like that, you got to have fun.
The rooftop is exceptional. So, that's a a piece of this that we're still working on in the last couple weeks is any of our our clients or our VIP sponsors. Um, we'll have, you know, some special stuff up on the rooftop, too.
Yeah.
Oh, all right. And so, you're you're rolling that in, right? You you guys have done some some events for the foundation. You've raised some money, all these, but it's all culminating in this upcoming event right here in the village. And one thing people need to know, Broadripple has not had a true October Fest in I'm not sure how long.
Yeah, I'm told maybe ever.
Bum bum bum.
I know. Wow.
So, we sat in a boardroom. Um we have a board meeting once a month and we sat in a board meeting and Erica Turko actually she's she's one of our board members. Um she sits at a Hoboken and she was like, "What if we did October Fest? What if we all wore leader hose and did an Oktoberfest?" and we started talking about it and it seemed too big to do. It seemed too big to really focus on when you don't have any full-time employees actually working um in this foundation yet yet. Yes.
And so um we started talking about it. We're like let's do it. Let's pull it together. We're going to we are going to make this happen. So, the amazing part of that is when you throw out into the universe that you're going to do something really cool like this, people step up and want to be a part of it and they really they give a lot of their own time and energy to be able to make it happen.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Uh especially Yeah. What it takes to put that on from uh like a people's capacity. It's like cuz like what what's your full-time role within 811?
So, I'm the chief brand officer. like you got to do chief brand officer things, you know, like the brand needs to be officered as well as October Fest thrown. So, how do you guys like pull What was like what were the first dominoes that needed to fall to bring this to life?
Yeah. Well, the really funny thing was I was like, "Yeah, we can get bands and we can get the security, no problem. How many volunteers do we need?" That idea was not not really an option. So, we contracted with 45 um which is
for those who don't know, please go listen to our episode with Jenny. She was a phenomenal guest talking about music all throughout central Indiana and beyond.
Yeah. So, if you've ever been to Rock the Ruins or anything the Vogue has done, that is 45. They plan that and they are exceptional planners in the music industry. And so, once we talked to them and decided to partner with them, that was a big check the box.
Leave it to the experts. Like,
yeah, let them do what they're good at. I'm part of uh Penrod.
Yeah.
And so we partner with 45 to book all the stages for all the acts like Friday night and Saturday of of our festival fair. And uh they do a phenomenal job and they get really interesting like like different acts that I feel like aren't just like the oh Rod Tough Girls plays everywhere, right? Like
your standard your standard ones.
And I love Rod Tough Girls. Let it be known they are spectacular. Like no hate for me on Rod Tough Girls.
Right. Right. So they can get those people that you would not normally have, you know, as an option. And that was another piece of it is like, okay, this is the first year. We don't know if we're going to sell 20 tickets. Our goal is a thousand. And so what are we looking at?
We're going to blow past a thousand.
I love the attitude. Let's do it.
If there are not a thousand people in Broadripple that want to go to October Fest, I'm moving. We're moving.
That is a bold statement. If there are not a thousand people in the greater Broaderville area that want to go to an October Fest, we are moving our headquarters.
Whoa. Will it be like Get O, get Ohio.
It'll be Get Out.
I'm not joking.
I love it. Well, good. So, let's get them. I That's a big piece of why I wanted to be here today because I know your reach is is big as well and so I'm hopeful to sell these tickets. We made them at an exceptional price point. Um they're $25.
Oh my.
What?
Yeah. to get in the door. And so that gets you the music.
I was gonna say, "What's the music? Who do we like? What can we expect?"
Oh, funny that you asked. I actually asked Jenny if I could share those bands today. And you know what Jenny told me? This is how good she is. She said, "You need to get on the podcast, not share the bands and then they follow you so they know what bands are coming."
So she knows a thing. She knows what she's doing. So, we're not going to If you want to see what bands are going to be at October Fest, you have to go follow the 811 Foundation.
That's right. Yeah.
When will they be dropping on
I think we're going to launch two of them by the end of this week.
Oh, boy.
And so, goal is to have I think our goal is to have six or seven, I'm told. And so, um I think we plan to launch two for the next couple of weeks.
Will there be poker?
I don't know.
I mean, okay. So, what else can we expect? We're going to have music. We're going to have music. You're going to check out their Instagram. You're going to see who's going to be there. It's going to be big. Yep. Huge.
Huge. DJ Lockar. You familiar with DJ Lockar?
I'm not familiar with, but I feel like I should be.
He's really great. He actually he's our DJ for all companywide events.
Um, he's like also happen to be an employee. I feel like there has to be an employee within 811 that's also a DJ.
He's not. I think there are, but he's not.
Okay.
He is exceptional.
Yeah, he is exceptional. He is our MC for the whole day. This is where relationships matter. He is doing it pro bono for us for the whole day because he cares so much about the foundation.
Heck yeah.
Which is super cool.
DJ Lockar.
DJ Lockar.
Let's go.
So, he'll be there and seeing the day. Um we have several contests throughout um the bands after each band happening. Um
what kind of contest?
Oo, a Steinholding contest may be one of them. Oh, come. I mean, you can't have an October Fest without a Steinholding contest. You can't
like that's just like a no-brainer. Absolutely.
Yeah. So, tons of contests during the day. We've got food trucks. Um, we have got tons of different sponsorship tents. So, a lot of the local Broadripple companies will be in those tents. Um, we have a VIP tent that is going to be super cool. We've got a kids zone. We got it all.
There's a lot of events happening all the time in Indianapolis. you know this the one that one this festival this concert this that what is gonna make the October Fest here in Broadripple in partnership with the 811 Foundation presented by the 811 Foundation what's going to make that one a mustattend event of the 2025 season
because we don't let events fail there it's going to be the most perfect place to be on October 4th
oh boy October 4th dates times
October 4th starts at 2 pm So, I envision families coming in Broadle having brunch and they decide to stay for the day um and hang out and the last band will go off the stage at 10 p.m. So, for eight hours and a really small ticket price. Kids are free. Adults are 25 bucks. I think with the service fees and everything, it ends up being like 33. There's a VIP um ticket that's a little more expensive, but you get really cool things like espresso martinis sponsored by Java House and Titos. Um
the collab you didn't know you needed.
Yeah, exactly. Um that is a really cool collab. And then St. Elmo's is doing shrimp cocktail in that VIP tent. And there's tons of other cool things. So you'll want to be there. There's nowhere else you'll want to be on October 4th.
Oh my gosh. Yeah. Absolutely. Like 30 bucks, whatever it $30 gets you a full workday. Two to 10. You're put in a full workday October Fest. Let's go. Yeah.
Uh is there like like leader hosen? Leaderhosen encouraged. Leader Hosen is especially encouraged.
Uh what are they called? Dindles.
Dles.
I don't know how to say that.
Durnles is I think the the female get garb the get up. You got to have one of those.
And maybe we've also got some really cool events coming up. So we have these Broadripple is known for the rubber duck race if you're not familiar with that. I don't know if you've ever talked about that on on this show, but it's a cool
I love it. It's very cool. I think the first time I went there, I didn't understand what I I thought they kind of move. They don't move very fast.
They're rubber ducks.
Yeah. You got
They're not motorized ducks.
Yeah. These are not These are not like So, I was like, "Oh, man. This is going to be so And they drop them in like, "All right, check back in 20 minutes."
Or three hours.
Yeah. Or whatever it is, right? No, it's very fun though. Part of it.
So, we made rubber ducks with Leader Husen on them and they have the 811 Foundation and our awesome marketing team. Brie Hall being one of them right behind me. Shout out Bri.
Um, she is going to be hiding these ducks in Broadripple businesses and bars and we will be doing these contests of, hey, we've hit rubber ducks in these bars, Broadripples after 5:00 p.m. on certain days. Find the duck, get two free tickets.
Oh, yeah.
Which is a above a $50 value. Yeah. Just by fighting the little German ducks.
Yeah. We may even do something crazy like, "Hey, buy four tickets, we'll give you 10 free." So, there's going to be some really cool different promotions.
You can't argue with that logic. Buy four, get 10 free.
Why would you not do it?
You're going to need more friends because we're getting to a thousand.
Yes, we're getting to a thousand. So, I need the biggest megaphones in the city to tell people that this is where they're going to want to be.
Uh, you might you might be on the right the right show here. That's we're here for for fun. When it comes to obviously, you know, having a great time, we think about raising a Stein to also, you know, raise awareness, raise support, build up this uh this foundation that's going out and impacting not just our community, but like you guys are in a lot of different markets. Yeah.
How does how does it feel to have written the mission statement and to bring this thing to life and now to be putting on this huge event? Like where where is your what are you feeling? brings me so much joy that so many people have poured into this foundation that we are able to actually truly impact and change lives. That is one of the biggest missions of the foundation is every day that we make a decision, it's to impact somebody's life for the better. So the goal of Oktoberfest, raise a glass, change a life, be impact makers while having an awesome time watching bands. If there's one thing I know about 811 is y'all work hard. You guys do a great job, but you also have a good time.
We play hard.
Like uh I I have so many friends that work across the street over there and they do have they like they might be the only company where everyone there like actually is friends like friends with their all their co-workers. It's crazy. Yes. Like in the best way.
We are we are friends for sure but we are more than that. we're family and so it's the family supporting family mission
and that is like like I think some companies a lot of companies say that and it's like it's on the walls and it's we're family but but I like truthfully believe it with you when you all say it and you see and then you see the action of like everyone's like taking the day off work to go to someone's wedding that's like they're getting I mean they were loading like a full-on sprinter van out here to drive to like Bloomington to go to a wedding for a wedding and there's like 20 people getting in I don't know most people I can't think of two people that they work with that they would want at their wedding. So, it's it's it's really impactful what you guys have been building. It's awesome. We're really excited about October Fest. Date is October.
October 4th.
You can't beat it. From 2 to 10 p.m.
2 to 10 p.m. I still have sponsorship opportunities available.
What What kind of What kind of sponsors are you looking for? What kind of people do you want?
Yeah, there's a few. I have a customized featured sponsor. It's only $5,000 and you get to customize what you're sponsoring the day of. So maybe you want to sponsor the Steinholding contest. Maybe you want to sponsor a pretzel eating challenge. Maybe you want to sponsor the chairs that are going to be put out and your logo's on the back of them. Several different opportunities like that.
Oh yeah. Well, that's there's opportunity there.
There's opportunities there.
I know out there there's somewhere there's like a I'm thinking something like a scrap metal company that wants to find the strongest. Maybe a gym wants to sponsor a Steinholding contest. maybe like
come on you're jacked.
There's so many opportunities. We have so many different opportunities for sponsorship. The premium supporting SP sponsor is actually would be the very large sign across the stage and I'm not going to give that out freely because I'm fine with it having our name on it. Um but so it's a 20 grand sponsorship but then they would have first write a refusal next year and I have a feeling this is going to be big.
It's going to be huge. It's already huge. Let's go. I love it. Okay, so we're looking for sponsors. If people want to buy tickets for October Fest in Broader Bowl on October 4th from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m., where can they buy their tickets?
The tickets are on open date, which is what 45 uses at when they sell everything. So, Rock the Ruins, any um concerts at the Vogue, anything like that. We'll give it to you so you can put it on.
It'll be in the link. Yep. It'll be in the link in the show notes.
Yeah, absolutely.
Amazing. I'm super excited. It's going to be fun. We have to round out every episode. We have four questions that we ask all of our guests that come on and that's what we'll round out the day with. First one, this question is brought to you by our friends at JC Hart. They are a leader in creating enjoyable living experiences at apartment communities all across Indiana and beyond. Check them out at home isjart.com. My question for you, Carly, why do you call Indiana home?
I was born and raised in Indiana. Born in Terode, Indiana. Lived in
paradise.
Yeah. Lived in Loga, Indiana. Are you familiar with Loga? Oh, we are familiar. Yes. How are you? Okay. What high school does that feed into?
Well, I fed into Southmont High School. So, I was a Mounty.
Heck yeah. The Mounties, of course.
Um, and then I went to Purdue University and then moved to Fisers right out of college. And so, Indiana is home to me because of the people here. I I just think the people that you get to experience when you live in the Hoosier State are are very much unlike any other any other person I've ever met. Amen. We're on to our final three questions. You have offices, physical brickandmortar presence in over 30 different markets all across the country. What is something that the world needs to know about Indiana?
I think the world needs to know that Indiana is more than just corn fields. When people say that to be the flyover state, it makes me laugh because I don't think of Indiana as a flyover state at all. I think of it as one of the best airports that you can ever come across. It's the easiest place.
It's the fly into state.
It's the fly into state. You can get through that security line in five minutes and and be sitting at 1933 having a filt burger.
I timed it once. I showed up 40 minutes, not before boarding started. I showed up 40 minutes before they close the door and you can't get on. And I got from the parking lot to my seat on the plane in 36 minutes.
Yeah.
Four minutes later, they closed the thing. And I like some people were like, "That's a little stressful. I don't know if I'm willing to roll the dice quite that much." But I was like, "Let's go."
We always have that conversation with my girlfriends. I always push the the envelope on that as well.
Absolutely.
But great flying state, but you know what? I'm I'm even going out on a limb saying people are going to want to fly in for October Fest. October 4th moving forward. They want to be in Indiana for October Fest.
Let's go. It's huge. I mean, you guys bring in a big piece of 811 is the the people that come in, right? Like for their 6 months of training or whatever it is
that we bring training in a ton. So, that's actually why I was Yeah.
You know, 60 seconds late for for this with you today is we have a training class today. Heck yeah.
So, they come in from every state and then they start here. They train here for a full week and then throughout the maturation of their career, they come back for multiple different trainings. What is the Because you get people from Boston and Denver and Texas and I mean all over. What is their feedback after they spend even a week? They spend a week in Indiana. What do they think?
Well, it depends on the time of year. This time of year they have great feedback. Ask them in January. It might not be the same.
Yeah, that's fair. That's fair.
But but I think in general I I do think everybody would go back to the people. I just think I've never heard anybody say that the people in Indiana are anything less than the coolest people they've ever met.
Amen. Okay, we have two questions left for you. This one, we need to know about a place or a thing that's happening in Indiana that's going on that more people need to know about. What is a hidden gem in Indiana?
Little French lick in West Ben.
Yes,
I think it's a cool hidden gem. So, from anything from having, you know, a night out with your spouse, but I took my kids there every single year at Christmas for for the Montreal, the uh Polar Express train that goes Yeah.
I I think they would still think say that's one of their their fondest memories as little kids is taking the Polar Express, you know, to the north North Pole and meeting Santa.
I was somewhere over the weekend and this like older guy, actually, oh my gosh, it was it was Dan Hasbrook.
Oh, yeah. It was Ryan's dad last week at a speaking thing. He came and then at the end of my like little shmeal he says, "Yeah, you know what I love about Indiana?" He says, "It's the only state where South Bend is in the north, North Vernon's in the south, and French lick isn't what you think it is." And that was a Dan Hasbro.
That is actually That is actually very true.
That's something that I was like, "Oh, I like this guy." Right. What a guy.
Yeah. But I would say that that area is just it's easy to get to. Everybody in the company is going to laugh when I say this because we've hosted so many leadership retreats there that people are like, "Okay, we're done with French like for now." But it's a cool hidden gem.
Final question for you. This is where we learn about new guests or people in our state that are just doing inspiring things. Who's a Hoosier that we need to keep on our radar? Someone who's doing big things.
Tiffany Sat.
Oh, killing it. She is um she is a great friend, but she is taking the next level of female leadership to I I think a a really cool place. I think what she does is able to lift women up in a in a really cool way to make it where they feel empowered. And we host a lot of those events in the company. Women in Tech Day is next Monday, which we're hosting. And um she's just one of those really amazing people that take somebody to the next level just by knowing her.
Heck yeah. Uh Tiffany rocks. Go back listen to her episode. It's fantastic. She gets really really open and honest about being a woman in leadership, being a woman in business, and it's like building strong relation like marital relationships. That's right. It was a it was a mind bl like I think uh if you are uh let's just say guys that are you know maybe in your 25 to 35 you need to go listen to it cuz it's an MBA on building strong relationships.
She goes deep and and she does it really really well.
Yeah absolutely great stuff. Carly, thank you so much for coming on and sharing all the cool stuff that the 811 Foundation is doing as well as the upcoming October Fest on October 4th from 2 to 10 p.m. right here in Broadripple. It's going to be a great time. We appreciate you being open and honest about I mean about a time when 811 had to show up big for you in your life and the time your friends and your network and just like I don't know going through that process is is incredible and so we're glad that you're uh you're here being an advocate for organ transplant as well.
Thanks Nate. It was awesome to talk to you. I can't wait to have you. Maybe we'll do some mini podcasts at Oktoberfest.
Let's let's make it happen. I love it.
Thanks for your time.
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That's a deal you can't miss out on. Call Hook Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, and start saving today. Now, let's get back into the show. We've come to a part of the show. We have a fun new segment. We're going to talk about top activities to do around Indiana with kids.
I have the expert, Nicole Pensbecker. I'm joined in studio. Nicole, how are we doing?
I'm great. How are you?
Oh, I could not be better. Uh, I'm excited to talk all things kids. So, obviously people know I'm not a not a dad, not a father at this point, but I am a I'm a godfather times two.
Hey, there you go. That's important.
So, I'm always looking for fun activities when my godchildren. Yeah. When my godchildren are in town. Uh, so I need to know where to take them, what to do. They're still small, but I'm like, you know, when they get to be mobile, then I'm like, we got to go do some fun activities. So,
and you want to venture out on your own.
Yeah. Well, you know, then they trust me to like
the father, son, and holy spirit for that one.
Amen. Right. I got to get like I might have to invest in a uh in a car seat. But we have our top five activities to do with children around Indiana. What's What's our number Well, five. What's our number five?
Number five has to absolutely be any of the local parks. Okay.
So, as a mom of four boys, they're active, they're mobile, they want to move. every park that we have in any community, whether it's Hamilton County or it's in Indie, are just better and superior than anywhere else. And I get that cuz I family visit all the time and they're like, "Are these parks all for free?" They're fantastic.
Okay.
Yes. And our favorite park is Lawrence Enlow in Caramel.
Are we going to give away a secret? It's
a hidden gem. It's like in Caramel, a little off of Hazel and it's got a water feature. It's got a big slide. It's got a gym that's I mean it's all outdoor.
There should be like a a parent influencer that has like a kid who rates parks like based on like the water feature the slide to this like oh yeah that slide those swings are extra springy
and the kid would narrate it. Right.
The kid does it. You just like you know and they're just like yeah I really like how how bouncable that whatever thing was
or how wet I got when I stood under that bucket.
Exactly. You know, like, oh, that's got the super bucket or whatever it is.
Free idea, everybody.
There you go. Entrepreneurial idea.
Yeah. Right. 100,000 followers about rating kids parks. Lickickety. All right. Now, we're on to four. What is the number four thing to do with kids around Indiana?
I'm going to say since we're in the summer, you know, beginning to fall time frame, we're going to go with Indiana State Fair. Like, you take the kids to Indiana State Fair. They think that they've been teleported out into something really special. Like, that is a lot of fun. But you got to be ready for it as a parent because it's a long day. It's always hot. And then the number one place to visit when you go to the Indiana State Fair is always the dairy bar.
Oh, absolutely. And you got to be ready for two types of meltdowns. We got ice cream meltdown and we got maybe a meltdown with a child at some point. It's
Oh, for sure. Absolutely. Yeah. And the milkshake there this year, I think, is key lime pie.
We need to get you at the dairy bar as a celebrity serving up ice cream this year.
Absolutely. That would be so much fun. Uh, I'm actually going I think it's there's a rodeo night and I if you haven't been to the rodeo, I don't know if it's necessarily we were a little bit off of like the kids feature, but the rodeo there is sweet.
Well, I was going to say if when PBR comes to town, that's also on my list for kid activities, but we digress.
Well, yeah. I'd say how many times do kids, especially in central Indiana, like see someone wrestle or wrestle uh one of those baby steers. Yeah. They'll like jump off their horse and like
I don't know, wrestle like WWE movement.
It's superhero stuff. It's a Oh, and they also have So, the cool part about this the dairy bar, too, is that they have food. Yeah.
That's also like dairy adjacent food.
Yeah. They Well, you can eat you can get grilled cheeses there. You can get everything at the dairy bar, but really you're going for the ice cream. Oh, yeah.
And if you're adventurous enough, you'll try the milkshake of the year cuz they change the flavor every year.
Hey, there we go. All right. Okay. We're on to number three. The third best thing to do with kids around central uh we'll say around all of Indiana.
Okay. It's really hot. So, let's bring them. Where do you Because as a parent, you wake up and you're like, it's a 100 heat index. Like, I can't take them out because we're all going to be struggling after that. So, we're going inside.
I think Pin Heads has it all. They've got bowling. They've got arcades. They've got volleyball at the Fisers location. The food there is fantastic for adults and for children. And most importantly for Pinheads, kids bowl for free Monday to Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4. Oh, that's like a little hat.
Hello.
That's a little cheat code.
Especially if you have younger kids and you're like from 10:00 a.m. to 4, what am I going to do with them to get their energy out? And they push that 5 lb bowling ball and it is like the hardest thing they've done in days.
Oh, that's that's a really good one.
I know it is. I wish I knew when my kids were younger that kids could bowl for free at Penn.
You know what's in uh the Godfather budget is free bowling. That is in the Godfather budget.
Maybe not all the food in the arcade. That will absolutely destroy your wallet. But definitely the bowling for free.
Oh yeah, that's that's a good move. Okay, number two. Top two number two thing to do with kids around Indiana.
I'm also staying inside because it's so stinking hot, but I'm loving lately taking all of the boys to Flick. Like Flicks is like the perfect balance. We went and saw F1, which Whoa, that was good. You haven't seen
I haven't seen Is this the Brad Pitt one?
Yes. And I got all hesitant thinking, can Brad Pitt really pull off and be like Lewis Hamilton? Like, am I supposed to think they're on the same level of superhero, you know, incredible, you know, driver of this, you know, race car? He does it. Brad Pitt does it.
All right. Well, he was really good in Ford vers Ferrari.
Yes.
Uh, that was a solid movie.
I did like that movie, too.
So, is it like in the same vein better?
No, he's better because his character is not supposed to be that athletic. like he's like he's the older driver that comes back to solve the problem. All right.
So, if you take the kids to Flick, you get to see a movie and they have great beer and they have great food. Their French fries are
That's also in line with what The Godfather likes to do.
That's right. That's right. So, you just need to take them to Disney like Pixar movie.
Hey, there we go. Win-win. Grab a beer. I'm I'm good to go. All right, we've come to it. The number one activity in Indiana to do with children.
I think it's Connor Prairie. I love Connor Prairie because you can go as a mom and explore how you want to go. There's a water area, there's a playground, of course, there's the historic part where people are dressed up. They have actors and actresses that want to talk you through history. There's animals. And then, of course, there's all the festivals. So, we're coming up on the fall. They're going to have Jupiter Flights, Hot Air Balloon Festival. It's one of the biggest hot air balloon festivals in the country to Connor Prairie. Tracks people from all over the place. And then Headless Horsemen.
I have heard about this one.
You got to go. You I mean the whole historic folklore of Icabad Crane. And it's just like it's it's for real. The children spooky.
Oh my god. They cry. So we're at that point where like they couldn't do it and then they could do it. But then they started doing it and like two out of the four of the boys would scream bloody murder and cry. And so I don't know who's going to want to go this year but we're going. Yes.
And they and the Headless Horseman seriously is like throwing the sword all around trying to cut off their head. No way.
Now, if you go when it's brighter, they don't do it because it's the younger kids, but man, you go at like 8 or 9:00, their goal is to spook you.
Okay, I'm in on that.
It's fun.
All right, those are really those are five really solid ideas. Uh
they're Becker Boys approved.
Becker Boys approved. Godfather outings. Let's go. That's what it is. It's Godfather outings. Uh I love it. We uh thanks for stopping by and we'll talk to you soon.
Thanks for all you do.
All right, we've come to a super fun segment in the show. We're talking with Adam Lark from Lark Branch. They have been going viral all over the state of Indiana. You have seen their corn maze. Uh it was a tribute to the late Jim Ers. It was incredible and I mean an awesome like just awe inspiring piece of artwork. I'm really excited to dive into not only how they they actually constructed this corn maze, but also how this partnership came to be, how you end up working with the Colts, how you make such an incredible tribute that went viral, not just in Indiana, across the country, across the globe, uh, and just like the tradition of this this family business that started down in Lagod, that spread to Greenfield, down to Lanesville. Lark Ranch is doing incredible things across the state of Indiana. Adam, welcome to Get In.
Hi, Nate. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it,
dude. I'm uh I'm really really pumped to have you here. Uh super excited. Let's just start with I mean like the elephant the massive elephant in the room. How do you even construct corn art? Corn maze art. How do you like build? Is there a GPS unit or is this like freehanded?
There's two different ways that it's been done in the past. So what's really interesting is one guy they crossplant the corn. So with whenever they do that it looks like a grid actually. If you've ever played those old games where you would like draw like the lines to like you connect the lines to draw a picture per se. So one way that they'll do that is they do that on a massive scale is so whenever the corn's you know 6 in tall or you know whatever it they'll go and they'll actually spray and kill it out and they'll go dot by dot. So they'll say okay it's 140
Oh no way.
200. Yeah. You're there counting every single piece to like get and that's like the traditional mazes you see, right? Where
that would have been in the spring. That's I was going to say there's no way you would have known that cuz that would have been you had to do that. And when did you guys plant this field?
So this field would have been planted like um o early early June. the the way that this is done and this is the reason why this one is is kind of so precise and looks so wild is is it's overlaid on GPS and then it's actually cut out with a with like a you know the tracked excavator skid steer tractors you know he has them out in the field and he cuts it out um it's GPS overlaid so he can see where he's at but he still has to like control to get it that precise
who's the artist who's the artist behind it who's running the controls
I didn't cut it out So, there's a a maze company that comes out and does this. It's called Precision Mazes and that's Rob out of Missouri.
Wow. Okay. So, Precision Mazes out of Missouri comes out and but but let's talk about this in like where did this idea come from? Did you guys present this to the Colts? Did the Colts present it to you? Did you just do this and say, "I hope you guys like it."
The Colts originally approached us back in like January or February. Um they had sent they were they had there's a couple different farms they'd reached out to about presenting the possibility of doing a Colts corn maze fall festival kind of thing, right? They had been um hosting it was called like for the boo. They' hosted at Lucas Oil every year and it was kind of a um Halloween get together at Lucas Oil for kids with candy and all that kind of stuff. They were looking for an outside location and they wanted to do a farm in in conjunction with that, a corn maze. So they had reached out to a few different farms.
You know, we were working on the design and kind of going through the processes. What was interesting was is so this happens um and our farm in Loi and this is, you know, a month or two later, right in mid-March, is hit by a bad tornado this year. It came through, it tore up several of our buildings, several of our barns, and it's been a process all year to clean it up. This is before we worked with the Colts, before we' done anything. Um, I'd get a box in the mail and a handwritten letter from, you know, the people that I had talked to just on a couple video calls and like, you know, before we even got going, you know, wishing us well, you know, sending their sending their sympathies, I guess, and like these little, you know, helmets and stickers and stuff. I mean, it was it was just a really cool, very thoughtful gesture.
Who from the Colts or did you talk to? So I'm dealing my main contact now is Anna Fowl and before that it was Nicole Elgen and then since then we've had like it's like kind of their marketing and events team has kind of been the ones that
that's so thoughtful of them like to you're kind of like working through maybe we'll figure something out down the road and for them to send a thoughtful gift to you all during like a time of like that's just Indiana baby come on.
It was awesome. I mean so that really like spoke to me. I was like, "Man, these people are like they're you already got to like the Colts being from Indiana." And then that was really just awesome. So, long story short, so since so since that time, you know, we're working through our design and then Mr. Ers passes away.
I knew that they they might want to pivot into something. So, I said, I think this would be a great opportunity to do a memorial maze or, you know, make this make this like kind of, you know, something bigger. You know, really, you know, just highlight the great things he's done for, you know, Indiana and the Indianapolis community. and you know he can he can look down from heaven and see himself and you know they like that idea. Um they came up with they they had the for the boss with the cowboy hat and stuff like that which for us with the ranch and the farm and the you know I thought it just worked perfectly and it it turned out really well.
Yeah. Oh my gosh. So how long did it take to to construct the for the boss corn maze?
Uh he started cutting right about 7:30 in the morning and he he cut till about 8:00 at night. So, right at 12 hours of constant constant cutting it.
Oh my gosh. And so he's overlaid with GPS figuring out like and are you out there watching him like cuz I feel like it's hard to tell like do you have like a drone or something up in the sky like watching it or how do you know?
So what we did is we had a drone going the whole time as well. Um so we could do like the the stop lapse of the cutting and stuff. So the whole thing got recorded. We have some more videos and pictures and stuff we'll share in the future. Um but that way you could really kind of see it just like almost get drawn out essentially and it was it you could track along with the progress too.
Like when um the Colts organization saw this come to life like what was the feedback that you got from them?
They loved it. They were extremely happy. Um a few of the representatives came out um during the maze cutting process and that was so that would have been a few of their you know first time with boots on the ground on Lark Ranch. They come out there and, you know, they're they they see it all getting cut and, you know, we put a Colts flag on the on the machine while they're cutting it out. And it was funny because they had never been to the farm before. So, they're seeing like they're like, "Wow, this place is really nice."
They're seeing our you have trains that go around and all the barns and you we have a lot of landscaping and I mean it's just in the pumpkin patch and everything. So, it was really neat for them to see the farm and then also when they were seeing the maze get cut out and they had a big TV screen and um we had a big TV screen set up overlaying the drone footage so they could you know see it all in like you know full screen in real time. One of the URS daughter or one of the URS owners now um she had posted on her Instagram story um you know replaying it and uh I've seen helicopters and airplanes you know private planes flying over all the time. So it's been it's been really cool.
Yeah. Who would have known you guys had to put in an air traffic control tower out on the ranch just to make sure uh we got to direct some traffic through there like as people come and check out this incredible tribute to the late Jim Ersce. That's just Indiana, right? like the ERS family has made such an impact in Indiana like you know through philanthropy through I mean kicking the stigma through all of these different um organizations and initiatives they've pushed forward and for you guys to team up with them and somehow come together to create this the most iconic Indiana piece of art right
it's like it's a corn maze that's a tribute to the late owner of the Colts like it does not get more Indiana than that unless somehow high school basketball was involved incredible talk to us about Lark Ranch like this is a a familyowned farm that started down in Lagodi and has since spread to Lanes down to Lanesville and has spread up here to the Donut County Greenfield um on the east side of Indianapolis. What's going on with the business and and what can we expect going into uh obviously the fall season when corn mazes and pumpkin patches galore?
Lark Ranch, we we titled as the ultimate fall experience. You know, I know you're a big Indiana guy and you talk about the maze being, you know, you know, Indiana. We we really, you know, we're we're as Indiana as it gets. And we also wanted to, you know, show families and people like a a cool time. So, it it started, you know, really small. My dad, he was an attorney.
And he had always, you know, grown up around farming, but he it wasn't what, you know, my grandparents did for a living. It was just they had some farm ground, you know, and he we they had tractors and he liked to play around and, you know, he would farm and this and that. whenever he uh he made some money as an attorney, he was able to buy a a farm and he he called it a ranch because he had longhorn cattle and kind of he was just kind of playing around, you know, he had cattle, he had buffalo, you know, he was he was farming, you know, and growing pumpkins and cotton and, you know, not he wasn't trying to he wasn't really trying to make a living with it. I he was just playing around, right? He'd buy tractors and see how they see how it worked. Um, so he started planting pumpkins and the local schools, you know, they knew that we had that and you know the the cattle and he had buffalo at that time too.
Um, we don't have buffalo anymore. I'd like to get some again. They're just hard to keep in and schools reached out and wanted to do a couple field trips. So that's kind of how it started. Um, and then he'd seen a corn maze somewhere and this was back in like 2001 2002. And so we put a corn maze in he opened up to the public and I mean it was just I mean it was small small.
So we'd have a I remember whenever I was a real little kid we'd have a busy day out there and there'd be like 25 people or 40 people maybe. I remember he'd be scrambling like oh my god you got to run into town and get a 12-pack of Cokes or a case of water like we're out. I don't know what to do.
I love that. It was very, you know, organic growth and it's been, you know, it's it's really in it's really awesome to see now that like, you know, the Colts thing and we're getting some publicity on, you know, what we're doing because I mean, this really has been a a 20, you know, 20 plus year project. We've been doing this a long time and it's just been it's just that, you know, that steady compounding growth, you know, you grow 10% every year and you do it for, you know, 25 years, it it can grow into something.
Amen. And well now this second generation has gotten into the business, right? Like you and your brothers, correct?
Yes. And so that was kind of like the next transition point. So he had grown it and then in 2008 um my grandparents who lived in um on the east side of Indianapolis, you know, right in Greenfield area, um they were fortunate enough to be able to buy uh a piece of ground right outside of town. Um they bought 70 acres up there and they'd kind of seen the corn maze idea and it wasn't a business thing for them like that's so neither one of the pumpkin patches really started as a business. So they were very involved in you know their church and stuff like that. So they would have church groups come out.
They did small concerts, bluegrass concerts, you know, stuff like that. is it was very more community and you know they'd have their friends out and grandma could have a couple chickens and you know grandpa could talk to everyone you know he was a big talker so you know he just he liked he could show him his tractor and you know talk a little bit and since that time you know then that one had grown steadily and you know we tried to add stuff it was in 2016 my dad in Loe another competitive pumpkin patch you know since since went out had opened up very close to our farm in Loi really essentially taken a lot of our look you know same buildings and same this and same that. And they'd actually went as far to come out to our pumpkin patch and take pictures and put it on their website. And my dad, he's a competitive guy and he was like, man, I don't really like this. So he said, we're either going to we're either going to go out of business or we're going to grow this thing.
So he put it he bought, you know, he bought all this rail. We put a train in with a mile of track and it was a project that took like three months that summer. We're out there working all the time. Um, so that was like our first like major thing we've added. we added. Um, and then since that time, you know, he started getting we started getting like portable like carnival rides and like small amusement rides that we'd buy from, you know, we we started buying, you know, some from, you know, carnivals and, um, traveling circuses and stuff.
Heck yeah.
Then during CO um, a lot of all that stuff was shut down. So, we started getting a hold of manufacturers where we were able to buy a lot of stuff, you know, essentially just for their cost in it because they were trying to trying to move stuff. So, we were able to really get a lot more rides and stuff during that time. We called our c a country fair kind of like you would see back in, you know, the 40s or 50s, you know, where they have the, you know, some rides and the lights and, you know, it's kind of a farm themed kind of kind of fair mixed in with, you know, a traditional pumpkin patch, the animals, the barns, the
Yeah.
So, it's fun.
That's so cool. I love that. And I love that it took a little bit of competition too to like, you know, get your dad fired up to, hey, we're gonna grow this puppy. If you're entrepreneurial at all, you're competitive. It's like, you know, I I think a lot of people don't shy away from compet like, yeah, sure. Bring it on. Like, let's go do this thing.
It was the kick I think we all needed to really get going. Now, it's my dad. He's he's still the big boss oversees it. And then, um, I have two brothers as well, Kyle and Eric. Um, my wife Kendall, she helps me a lot, too. And she does all the social media marketing, website kind of thing. thing. And then my two brothers, they run our Lot farm. Um, I run our Greenfield farm and then my dad, you know, he's in our our Lanesville farm. It's all hands- on deck.
I love it, man. So, what can listeners of get in? What can Hoosiers expect if they make a visit to any of the three Lark Ranch locations?
So, we have, you know, a lot of the same staples each and we have a train with a mile of track at all of them. We have the rides, you know, we have the fall food, the apple cider slushies, you know, the donuts, all that kind of thing. The other big one we have for this year is we have so we have farm animals on all of them and this year we actually have Highland cows, the cute fluffy ones that everyone goes crazy about. We have two of those at each farm. Um we're adding this year. Um in Greenfield we're doing something a little special this year, too.
So we have the Colts event on September 27th. Um they're going to be bringing games, popup activities, prizes, um as well as cheerleaders, big blue. I knew that people would want to see the maze for themselves. So, I'm partnering with a a helicopter company out of Indianapolis that's going to be giving that's going to be taking off from our parking lot and they're going to be giving rides. So, if you want to if you want to take a ride, they'll take you up and you can see the maze for yourself. Uh I think that's going to be really that's going to be really neat.
We've never done it before.
Yeah. Oh my gosh. because this is like a this is not only a very fun corn maze, you know, like to do the the fall activity. It's also like this this moment of time and this tribute to an absolute legend in the state of Indiana. So, you can get a you can get a helicopter ride and see it with your own two eyes. I love that. That's so cool.
We got one more uh we got one more thing. So, we haven't announced it officially on our Facebook or anything yet, but in Greenfield, you know, we've I've always wanted to do live music up there. I've done it at Lagod a few times. Uh we're going to kick off Lark After Dark this year. The first three Saturdays in October, October 4th, the 11th, and the 18th. Um we're going to be doing live music, you know, beer, wine slushies, campfires, and train rides. Uh we're shutting the amusement rides down cuz we want it to be a little more adultoriented. It's going to be good.
Probably a good move.
The the lineup is is the first weekend's Wildart band. They're local to Andy. The second one's Cory Smith, which I saw him playing at Clayton's Country Bar and he was awesome. And then we have Hank Ruff from Bloomington the third weekend. So, it's going to be a great lineup.
Oh my gosh, that's a really good lineup. That's a good get. Like, those are those are three awesome awesome artists here. Lark After Dark, the first three Saturdays in October. On the 27th is the Colts event where you have the helicopter rides. So, this is like the busiest of the busy season for y'all.
It is. It is. We're getting ready to We We hit it hard when we hit it.
Amen. Well, hey, I appreciate you making the time for us uh and coming on the show and telling us how, oh my gosh, the partnership with the Colts came to be, how Lark Ranch has grown over the past 20 plus years from Lagod up to Greenfield down to Lanesville. How your whole family is just pouring into this to create the ultimate fall experience for Hoosiers and people beyond. Like if you're, you know, you're from outside, you're from across the, I don't know, Illinois, Kentucky, wherever, come up, hang out at Lark Ranch, a mile of train track at every single farm is wild. I do have to ask, if we're down in Lagod or we're out in Greenfield or we're down in Lanesville, besides one of the farms, where else do you have to go in each of those spots? What what's your single favorite recommendation in Lagodi, in Greenfield, in Lanesville?
Go. It's got to be It's got to be right right across the river in Scholes. You got to go to Bowax. It's It's fantastic.
Yes, Bowax. I love that.
Lanesville has its restaurant, which is the only one, but it's a good one. They got the Hogs Tavern. It's a good good spot to go in.
Hogs Tavern. Come on.
And then Greenfield probably I'm a big Mexican food guy. Probably got to be the Don Regal. It's just it's hard to beat.
The depot in Greenfield, the like converted train depot. They have really good food. Like I was blown away by how good the food was there.
It's fantastic and it's just it's it's cool seeing them preserve the history like that with the with the old mill and the old, you know, it's in the old elevator. It's just it's really neat to see all that.
Yeah, absolutely. Well, hey, Adam, appreciate you coming on the show. Thanks. And uh we'll have to make it out to uh maybe a lark after dark in October this year and come check out all the cool stuff y'all have going on. Appreciate you, man.
We know. I'll get you some tickets. Appreciate you.
That's a wrap on this episode. I hope you enjoyed learning more about Oktoberfest, the 811 Foundation, Carly Oakley's powerful testimony of through organ transplant, and just going out there and making an impact in our community. Hope you also enjoyed uh our time at the Cole Pence talking through the best activities to do with your family, with your kids around Indiana. And I mean, how could you not love? The Colts are 2 and 0. Uh we're excited for this weekend. And Lark Ranch, their growth has been incredible. uh super honored to hear about yeah their experience and how partnering with the cult came to be. Uh thank you for listening. We'll see you on Monday.
