In talking about how the cows are cared for, the family uses an analogy that most people in Indiana understand. “Cows are a like race car at the Indianapolis 500 in that they have their own pit crew,” Ashley points out. Kyle explains that along with the farm’s employees, the cows’ team also includes a veterinarian and a nutritionist to make sure the animals are healthy, comfortable and eating a specialized diet just for them. The cows even have a hoof trimmer on their team, meaning their hooves are getting trimmed akin to getting a pedicure on a regular basis. “We keep detailed health records on our cows, likely more than most people keep on themselves, and the cows’ diet is carefully formulated for optimal nutrition,” he says.
The race car analogy is appropriate as Ashley is the 2025 Indy 500 Rookie Milk Presenter. This means she will be front and center in the winner’s circle at the Indy 500 where the winner receives their chosen milk from the veteran milk presenter, Abbie Herr, and Ashley will deliver bottles of milk to the winning Chief Mechanic and the winning Team Owner. In 2026, Ashley becomes the official Milk Person with the honor of handing the ice-cold bottle of milk to the winning driver of the Indy 500. “This is a humbling and exciting way to advocate for the dairy industry here in Indiana and all over,” she says.
Another analogy to racing could be the activity on the busy dairy farm. The cows at Stockwell Farms are raised on the farm before entering the milking herd where they are milked three times a day. “Milking goes on around the clock. There are roughly three hours a day where the parlor is shut down for cleaning but the rest of the time, cows are milking,” Kyle says. Their milk is sold to Dairy Farmers of America, and when the milk truck leaves the farm it heads down the road to Huntington where it is bottled and distributed to retail outlets such as Aldi’s, Dollar General and for cafeterias at area schools.
Ashley and Kyle have four children, including Konner, twins Kyra and Karter and Kooper, adding another level of activity and involvement. Ashley works off the farm in a financial planning firm and says meeting people who have no idea where their food comes from helps inspire her to promote the dairy industry.
“While I joked that I would never marry a farmer, God laughed and I married a dairy farmer,” Ashley says. “I am embracing this industry and sharing how passionate we are about feeding America with a product that is delicious and nutritious.” As further illustration of this passion, Ashley serves on the board of the American Dairy Association of Indiana and is also a National Dairy Promotion and Research Board Member.
The Stockwells are focused on telling the story of the dairy industry and moving full speed ahead to prepare for the next generation on the farm. “We want to expand the farm and give the kids an option someday to be part of this industry,” Kyle says.