By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A former Heritage High School student with ties to North Adams Schools has been named one of two presenters of milk for this year’s Indianapolis 500.
Ashley Thieme Stockwell of Hudson will be at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, to present milk to the winner of the 500-mile race.
Stockwell, whose father, Todd Thieme, is a former assistant principal at Bellmont High School, and Abbie Herr of Kendallville were selected by the American Dairy Association Indiana’s Rookie + Veteran Farmer program. The association has selected a ‘veteran’ and ‘rookie’ milk presenter each year since 2006.
Stockwell, the rookie, and Herr will present the milk in Victory Circle.
According to the American Dairy Association Indiana, the “Winners Drink Milk” tradition started at the 1936 Indianapolis 500 by driver Louis Meyer, who requested buttermilk to quench his thirst after the race.
Stockwell and her husband, Kyle are part of a Stockwell family-owned dairy farm which milks 750 cows and farms nearly 1,100 acres near Hudson in Steuben County.
Ashley and Kyle are the parents of four children.
Todd Thieme currently is assistant principal and athletic director at Southern Wells High School. He previously held the same two positions at Woodlan High School.
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