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Fastest rookie program highlights dairy

The Fastest Rookie program and the Indianapolis 500 continue to highlight the importance of the Indiana dairy industry.

Andrew Kuehnert, this year’s Indianapolis 500 rookie milkman, says he is honored to take part in both events and tell the stories of dairy farmers.

And, he says there are a lot of similarities between dairy and the race’s car field.

“Technology is a huge part- I have robotic milkers on my farm and it looks like the bottom of an Indy car,” he says. “It goes hand-in-hand with what Indy cars are doing. You have to be on the cutting edge of technology and always pushing the limits if you want to keep winning or stay in business.”

Audio: Andrew Kuehnert, Indiana dairy farmer

The Fastest Rookie program was started by the American Dairy Association of Indiana more than 40 years ago to introduce new drivers to the tradition of drinking milk in Victory Circle.

Matheus Leist is this year’s fastest rookie.  The AJ Foyt Racing driver says his goal is to finish the race, but if he were to win…

“I would choose whole milk,” he says.

The tradition of drinking milk as a post-race celebration began in 1933 when Louis Meyer, the race’s first three-time winner, requested buttermilk after he won his race.

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