Hays Family Farm Practices Regenerative Ag for the Health of the Land - and Our Lives
DOGTONA RETURNS TO THE HENDRICKS COUNTY 4-H FAIRGROUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY
6 RUFF DAY
Dogtona Returns to the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds in Support of the Humane Society
10 ALL FOR HOPE
Cliff Sweazey Talks
Executive Director Role at Hope Healthcare Services
13 RESOLUTE FOR 2025 A New Year’s Resolution Guide
14 GOOD GROWTH
Hays Family Farm Practices Regenerative Ag for the Health of the Land - and Our Lives
18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
20 LOVE OF LEARNING
Brownsburg Early Childhood Center Helps to Lay a Solid Academic Foundation for Each and Every Youngster
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RUFF DAY
DOGTONA RETURNS TO THE HENDRICKS COUNTY 4-H FAIRGROUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photography / Frosted Designs Photography & Michael Blakley
When Cameron Johnson visited a dog park in Indianapolis more than two decades ago, it sparked a passion that she never would have guessed would result in the popular Hendricks County event aimed at all things dogs - Dogtona.
Today it’s the Hendricks County Humane Society’s largest fundraiser, but back then it was simply a mission to bring a dog park to area.
“I thought we should have one in the county, and I wrote a letter to the editor at our local paper and asked people if they’d like to have a dog park, let’s meet up,” Johnson said. “About 15 people showed up to the first meeting and we decided we were going to do it.”
They put signs on their cars, sent mailings to Hendricks County residents and hosted a dog parade, to bring attention to the mission. They also
came up with the idea of Spring Break at Dogtona, originally held in March at the National Guard Armory. They tied advertisements to dog biscuits and local banks would hand them out as dog owners passed through the drive through.
“We had about 75 people and their dogs show up,” Johnson said. “Dick Wolfsie came and autographed his book about [his dog] Barney. The first event went really well.”
They only charge $5 per dog - it’s free for the dog’s human - and they’ve never raised their admission price in all these years.
“We wanted to create an inexpensive day for families to have with their dog and we’re hoping to break even,” Johnson said. “We never made thousands and thousands, but it was enough to work with officials to create the first dog park
in the county at Washington Township Park.”
It took seven years, and Johnson was there when it officially opened.
“I saw people playing with their dogs,” she said. “For all the petitions and the research and the events and the work, it was worth it. After Avon, others slowly began to come on board.”
At the time, she was on the board at the Humane Society and the event fit perfectly into part of their mission: “Strengthening the bond between humans and their pets.”
They were willing to lend their name to the event and the nonprofit was immediately on board to help, financially and otherwise.
“Each year it just kept growing,” Johnson
said. “We quickly outgrew the armory and moved the event to the fairgrounds. Even during the pandemic, we never missed a year.”
They dropped the “Spring Break” portion of the event title and moved it to January. They’ve weathered ice storms and belowzero temps, but continue to bring in hundreds of dogs each year. It’s an event like no other.
Imagine a variety of breeds playing together, competing and having a ton of fun in a day focused on them and time with their owners.
A volunteer made an A-frame dog ramp, and they added games like Search and Re-shoe, hiding treats inside shoes for the dogs to find. They created the Great LickOff, a contest to see which dog can lick peanut butter off of a spoon the fastest.
Dogs and their owners can get a free family photo, and perhaps most popular is the dog show, with competitions like curliest tail, best kisser and more.
There’s even a Canine Café, offering food for human attendees.
Surrounding the dog play area and events are vendor booths, ranging from rescue centers to therapy dog groups. There are K9 demonstrations, CPR demonstrations, and during some years they’ve had a caricature artist on hand.
Over the years they’ve invited dancing dogs, pet massage therapists and an animal communicator to join them. It’s a different experience each time, but guaranteed fun for the dogs and the
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people too.
“One year I walked past a father, son and his dog,” Johnson said. “They had a rolled-up piece of paper from the caricature artist and the dad said, ‘We have a memory here.’ I know of two sisters that live in different towns. They schedule their visit together around Dogtona so they can all get together. To hear the stories and the excited kids throughout the day, it’s just a fun way to give people more places to have fun with their pet.”
It’s also a place of connection. Johnson said dog organizations and nonprofits have been able to meet each other and work together toward their missions.
“I’ve worked with the Central Indiana K9 Association and the Transportation Safety Authority, and they do demonstrations and educate people on what they are doing for the community,” Johnson said. “To me, the event just means people love their animals and want to spend time with them, so it’s a joy.”
Johnson said these days, many in the community have heard about the special event, but she still works with local veterinarians and pet food stores to spread the word.
“In the beginning we did a take on David Letterman’s Top 10 and made a list of reasons we needed a dog park,” she said. “The number-one reason was that a tired dog is a happy owner. We needed a place for people to get together that might not meet on the sports field or the kids’ event. It’s a community gathering spot and it makes me happy to see the dogs running and playing.”
There are dog parks in Plainfield, Avon and Brownsburg now. The Humane Society continues to earmark a portion of their budget for future dog parks, to support towns in other areas across the county.
Johnson is still serving as chairman of the Dogtona committee, and has seen volunteers come and go over the past two decades. She loves the creativity newcomers
bring to the event, and hopes that one day someone will be willing to take the reins.
“It’s fun to work with the committee and come up with new ideas and new games,” she said. “We’ve tried things that didn’t work so well, but we learn year after year how to make it better.”
So much has happened as a result of a community joining together for a special cause.
“I just had this idea in my head,” Johnson said. “If you want a change, you need to do something. It just takes one person with an idea to get things happening for so many reasons. The support we’ve received from so many businesses and the Hendricks County Fairgrounds that continues to make the event affordable is unmatched.”
Dogtona will return to the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex on January 19. For more information, visit hendrickshumane.org/ events.html.
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ALL FOR HOPE
CLIFF SWEAZEY TALKS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROLE AT HOPE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Insurance can be tricky.
You might be paying through your employer, you might qualify for government assistance, or you might not have insurance at all.
Back in 2005, a local church launched a ministry for those in the third category - those working as 1099 contractors, working for a day care or nonprofit organization, or just started a new job and
waiting for the benefits to kick in.
Whatever the reason, private insurance isn’t an option and these folks don’t qualify for assistance.
This can put you in a tough spot when it comes to making choices within your budget. Individuals often put off seeking medical help, or they have to decide if that dental cleaning is more important than keeping the lights on.
What is now known as Hope Healthcare Services in Avon began offering medical and dental services to these individuals, by welcoming licensed physicians and volunteers from IU Health West Hospital and Hendricks Regional Health, among other professional offices in the area.
These professionals donate an afternoon each week, or one day per month, to give back to their community with the
skills they have.
It’s no longer supported by just one church, and over the years the nonprofit has been supported by numerous churches, businesses and individuals. Thanks to that support, they’ve grown exponentially.
The most recent change is the addition of a new executive director, Cliff Sweazey. He was once in business development and consulting technology, but in 2015 Sweazey felt he needed to make a change.
“I sold my technology company to my business partner and started doing ministry work,” he said. “I didn’t really have any specific plans. I just knew I wanted to serve others. I started getting involved in the prison ministry and the divorce ministry, and I eventually went to graduate school for pastoral ministry and Christian counseling.”
Sweazey worked at his local church for several years before a series of circumstances led him to apply at Hope Healthcare.
“I didn’t know I was looking for a job when I found Hope,” he said. “My wife saw their job posting and told me about it. I sort of shrugged it off because I wasn’t looking. In a matter of six days, three more unrelated people sent me the same job posting. Then I felt like it was calling for me, and I want to go where I’m needed.”
Some would say he has big shoes to fill. John Mollaun has served as executive director for nearly two decades, but Sweazey said that’s not his goal.
“John has been amazing,” he said. “He waited until I was in place before he retired so we could transition smoothly. It’s a valuable opportunity to get his input and he did personal introductions to many in the community. I’ll never fill John’s shoes, but it’s an honor to walk in his footsteps.”
The entire staff has shown Sweazey their
big hearts and willingness to jump in where needed.
After all, with just a small paid staff, the organization is operated by more than 80 active volunteers.
“I’ve seen firsthand the commitment of our volunteers,” Sweazey said. “These physicians and dentists and counselors are just called to serve, and they believe in this ministry. It’s beautiful to watchlike an orchestra and collaborative effort.”
In addition to medical and dental care, the newest service brought in by the organization is mental health care.
Across the country, we are seeing more and more youths and adults with anxiety and depression symptoms - and at an earlier age than ever before.
“It’s such an important component,” Sweazey said. “When you look at the Hendricks County needs assessment survey, one of our top concerns is mental health. We partner with counselors who will discount their rates, and then we subsidize those rates even further to make it affordable for the patient.”
Whether in need of an annual physical, a dental cleaning or a counselor, patients simply call the Hope Healthcare staff and schedule an appointment for the next available volunteer.
They are open five days per week. However, certain services are offered on certain days, and availability is based on the volunteers they have on hand.
Most services have a small fee, but they offer “extremely discounted rates” according to Sweazey. When it comes to blood work or other routine procedures, they have partnerships in the area to make those needs affordable too.
In his new role, Sweazey hopes to watch Hope Healthcare continue to grow.
“I posted something about Hope Healthcare on social media, and it broke
my heart the number of people that said, ‘What’s Hope?’” he said. “We have to change that. Part of my initiative is to increase awareness and to reach not only the people we can bless by serving them, but also those in the community that can use their gifts to serve others.”
His ultimate goal is to offer a full-time staff of volunteers, five days per week, with all services available like a typical clinic. It will take a lot of community collaboration.
“We’re already working on some of these things,” Sweazey said. “We’re partnering with other churches and nonprofits in the community. We want to let them know about our services and promote each other.”
Additional licensed volunteers are needed, as well as those willing to help schedule or answer phones. Sweazey asks for prayers, and donations are always welcome.
“We can’t do what we do without the financial support from our community,” he said. “We have so many community partners, businesses and individuals who support us. You can have the best concept in the world, but without the people, it doesn’t do us any good.”
As Sweazey continues to raise awareness, make connections and welcome additional volunteers, he admits there’s still a lot to learn. However, he can’t help but think that Hope Healthcare is where he has belonged all along.
“I believe God has been building me for this position my entire life,” he said. “It’s like if you train for a marathon and you weren’t sure how it was going to go, but now that I’m here, I know he has equipped me for the call. Sometimes God opens a door and then has to kick us through it. I couldn’t be more excited to work for this amazing organization.”
A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION GUIDE
Writer / Devon Dean
“I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me.”
-The Mountain Goats, “This Year”
2024 is in the history books, and we’re now collectively bundled up and ready to tackle 2025. Each time the ball drops in Times Square and people uncork the Korbel, it’s a chance to reset the balance and state some good intentions for the next 365 days.
A recent study by the American Psychiatric Association showed some 76% of adults in the U.S. will make resolutions this year, and more than a quarter of these (28%) are focused on mental health, with many of us setting our sights on improving wellness through both mental and physical/ habit changes:
Dr. Anne Mary Montero is a licensed clinical psychologist and director of behavioral health at IU Health North. She says change can be elusive, particularly when it comes to lifestyle.
“Certainly, there are excellent mental health benefits to setting and achieving goals for change toward wellness, but it is helpful to anchor goals in a few ways to maximize both the psychological benefits, and to minimize risk, including if we don’t achieve everything we set out to do,” she says. “Psychological risks to goals that are unrealistic or too harsh can be demoralizing and even lead to anxiety or depression, but envisioning change, and being motivated to try, is the first step toward mental health support for yourself, helping you see the change you want to create with your resolution.”
GOAL-SETTING STRATEGIES
Keep goals anchored in values. What is most important to you will help you stay motivated when initial enthusiasm may wane, and the impact of achieving your goal will mean the most to you when you reach it.
Stay positive with a healthy balance of discipline and self-compassion; even the most driven people benefit from grace, and you can support yourself best if you stay in a positive frame of mind. In fact, studies of happiness show that we are not only in a better mood, but we are actually more productive and effective when we keep a positive outlook. Also, keep in mind that self-care is critical, particularly with winter in full swing.
Consider counting steps. A large goal can be less overwhelming if broken into components or sequential steps, even micro steps, toward change. While it’s healthy to dream, we want to set our sights on a balance of vision and achievability to keep positive success realistic and within our reach. Write goals and progress down. You will not only keep yourself accountable, which usually serves to help with motivation, but you can count steps toward progress that support and reinforce the excellent impact your efforts can have.
“Another critical strategy can be to ask for help,” Montero says. “Telling your plans to someone who cares about you and asking for a regular check-in about this can serve both as an accountability check and a built-in reminder.”
Montero’s final piece of advice is to use positive self-talk. She says reminding yourself of your power and emphasizing your progress can be especially powerful. “You are the
plan to exercise more.
plan to meditate.
plan to focus on spirituality.
plan to see a therapist.
plan to take a break from social media.
plan to journal.
plan to use a mental health app.
plan to try something else
ultimate authority on what you are feeling and how you expect to move forward,” she says. “You are aware of your efforts against all the forces that challenge you, and you can uniquely and authoritatively acknowledge the good you have done.”
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GOOD GROWTH
HAYS FAMILY FARM PRACTICES REGENERATIVE AG FOR THE HEALTH OF THE LAND - AND OUR LIVES
Writer & Photographer / Ryan Gabbert
If you asked average Americans where their food comes from, the majority would likely just say the grocery store. Meat comes neatly packaged in cellophane, and vegetables are frozen and ready to be microwaved. The world today is far removed from the means of food production, where the customer at the end of the chain knows nothing of the process or consequences of what they consume.
Most people have turned a blind eye to this, unwilling or unable to comprehend their diet’s impact on the rest of the world. Even those who want to consume their food responsibly find it’s not always easy to break free of the cycle.
Hays Family Farm in Bainbridge, Indiana, serves as a ray of hope in a world overrun with monoculture farming and industrial meat production.
They practice regenerative farming, a method dedicated to improving soil health, biodiversity and sustainable land use. The
farm is a family effort, run by John Hays, his wife, Jenny, and their children and grandchildren.
“Conventional farming has become a sea of monoculture crops and killing anything standing in the way of maximum production,” John Hays says. “Regenerative agriculture is about fostering life in every way you can imagine, both in the soil and above the soil. That changes the way you see things. Now we can see so many exciting opportunities for the future of agriculture and life overall on this planet. People have such an amazing opportunity to positively affect society and the ecosystem, which is very motivating.”
Hays did not start out in regenerative farming, however. He began in commercial agriculture, seeing firsthand the damage it can do to the land and the animals that feed us.
“I have been farming for 40 years and have been involved in many different types of operations from extensive home gardening, commercial pig production, row crop farming and commercial hay production, to now regenerative farming, raising grass-fed/grassfinished beef, pastured pork, pastured chicken and pastured eggs,” he says.
Hays’ experiences in the commercial
agriculture industry gave him a wealth of knowledge to draw upon, but he knew there had to be a better way to do it.
“At a very young age, my first influences were my mother, grandpa and uncle,” he says. “Although regenerative agriculture was not even a term back then, they instilled the importance of taking care of the soil, and that has always been a concern for me. Much later in life I read “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and became aware of the regenerative movement, and began looking deeply into what was going on there. I also quickly became aware of what Gabe Brown was doing, and since then Understanding Ag has been a huge influence on me. My biggest influence of all to starting managing in a regenerative way was my observations over the years that what I was doing was in fact not helping the soil. It was taking it backward. I began searching for answers and they began exposing themselves the more I searched.”
The mission of Hays Family Farm has always
been health: health for the soil, health for the crops and animals that nourish us, and health for the consumer.
“Hays Family Farm’s vision is to regenerate health from the ground up, and our mission
is to help you eat healthy,” Hays says. “We started Hays Family Farm to offer our community a local source of healthy foods while having a positive effect on the ecosystem we are part of and responsible for stewarding.”
Hays Family Farm proudly offers a wide variety of all-natural, 100% grass-fed/grassfinished beef for sale. They also sell pastureraised pork, chicken, eggs, and even all-natural honey. If that isn’t enough, they even deliver their products around the greater Indianapolis area.
With the farm’s competitive prices, there’s
never been a better time to consume responsibly. While the savings are great for any budget, the real benefactor is the customer’s health.
“There is lots of exciting data becoming available about the nutrient density of foods raised under regenerative practices,” Hays says. “We are seeing research data being put together under the leadership of Dr. Stephan Van Vliet at Utah State University that shows meats raised under truly regenerative systems are much more nutrient dense, and contain many times more phytonutrients than conventionally raised meats. Eating these healthier foods will have a very positive effect on our personal health. Regenerative farming can improve not only the health of our soils, but the health of our lives.”
With the coming of the new year, the Hays family will take over management of an additional 150 acres of land and continue to expand their regenerative operations. In addition to the actual farm work, the Hays
family also seeks to educate the community on the benefits and methods of regenerative farming. They offer various classes and seminars throughout the year for anyone who wants to learn more.
If you would like more information about Hays Family Farm, visit their website at haysfamilyfarm.net, follow them on social media, or stop by the farm for some fresh meat.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1
LUMINARY FIRST DAY HIKE
ARBUCKLE ACRES PARK, 200 N. GREEN ST.
5:30 PM
AROUND
Kick off the new year on the right foot and get out in nature! Join us on a luminary stroll through Arbuckle Acres Park and discover some unique Brownsburg history along the way. brownsburg.org
3
SPECIAL EVENT: KAM PATTERSON
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB, 10 W. GEORGIA ST. 7:30 PM indianapolis.heliumcomedy. com
4
DÍA DE LOS REYES AT THE EITELJORG MUSEUM
EITELJORG MUSEUM, 500 W. WASHINGTON ST. 1 - 3 PM
Celebrate the joy and tradition of Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) at the Eiteljorg Museum! eiteljorg.org
5
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
LUCAS OIL STADIUM, 500 S. CAPITOL AVE.
9
BRIAN REGAN
CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY, 4602 SUNSET AVE.
7:30 - 9 PM
Critics, fans and fellow comedians agree - Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country, with Vanity Fair calling Brian “the funniest stand-up alive.”
13
PLAINFIELD SPEED DATING FOR SINGLES
LUMBERJAXE, 351 MARKETPLACE MILE, SUITE 140
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Meet up to 12 potential matches. Join the thousands of people who have found love at our events. eventbrite.com
WOMEN’S SELFDEFENSE CLASS
7:30 - 9 PM
Put on some comfy workout clothes and join this monthly class with both classroom and hands-on instruction. brownsburg.org
17
HENRY LEE SUMMER
8 SECONDS SALOON, 111 N. LYNHURST DR. 8:45 PM
22
DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS “FROZEN & ENCANTO”
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, 125 S. PENNSYLVANIA ST.
7 PM
All guests aged 2 and older are required to have a ticket. No costumes for guests 14 and older. Character experiences available. Access to a private event with interactive time and photo opportunities.
25
DUSTY SLAY: THE NIGHT SHIFT TOUR
CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL, 4602 SUNSET AVE.
7 - 8:30 PM
With a formidable social media presence across all major platforms, Dusty Slay entertains with his clean comedy.
YORK AUTOMOTIVE CONCERT SERIES: ON A WINTER’S NIGHT
200 W. MAIN ST.
8 - 10 PM
Don’t miss the brightest stars of the singer-songwriter movement. In 1994 Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists, to showcase music of the winter. brownsburg.com
LOVE OF LEARNING
BROWNSBURG EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER HELPS TO LAY A SOLID ACADEMIC FOUNDATION FOR EACH AND EVERY YOUNGSTER
/ Melissa Gibson
Writer
Photography / Brownsburg School Corporation
Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC) is known for excellence, from academics to sports to fine arts, but did you know they also have an Early Childhood Center (ECC) for ages 3 to pre-K?
They are preparing our youngest for a solid start as they move into kindergarten at Brownsburg schools, and will open enrollment this spring for the 2025-2026 school year.
“We follow the Indiana Early Learning program through the Department of Education, using math, reading and social/ emotional curricula,” said Emily Zeto, preschool coordinator. “One important piece of getting kids ready to head to kindergarten is making sure they are on track developmentally.”
Not only does it include academic readiness, but Zeto said they’re looking at other skills too, such as problem solving, fine motor skills, independence and more.
“We have certified staff members who have a degree in special education along with their teaching license,” Zeto said. “We also have a speech language pathologist, an occupational therapist and a physical therapist for additional support.”
They serve a wide range of students. For example, children in the Indiana First Steps program receive an evaluation, and staff at ECC are ready to support families throughout the entire process. Parents can reach out to discuss a concern regarding their child’s development.
Students who qualify for special-education services prior to kindergarten can utilize the speech, occupational and physical therapies, but even if the child is not in need of special education, families can take advantage of the extra support through their tuition-based program like any other similar preschool offering.
The concern surrounding early childhood development and preparation has been a hot topic for years in legislation, at the school level and in parents’ homes across the country. The earlier children become engaged in learning
and the earlier they are surrounded by peers, the better the chance of success down the road.
Staff at ECC work hand-in-hand with the elementary schools, teaching preschoolers the first steps toward curricula they will see in kindergarten.
It’s not all academics, however. They have a lot of fun too.
“We love to involve the community in some of the things we do here,” Zeto said. “Brownsburg Community Schools does a Fun Run, we have a Pup Strut event with puppies, other various fundraisers, and a pumpkin patch we grow here. We have parties over the holidays and on occasion have pizza with a bulldog. The kids love that.”
The more children participate in school events and interact with each other, the more they become ingrained in the BCSC family.
Transitioning to a different grade in school can be unsettling and even scary at times. For students at the preschool, the transition is made fairly easily.
The staff members at ECC do everything they can to prepare preschoolers for the next step.
“In the spring we invite the principal, assistant principal and kindergarten teacher to meet the students here,” Zeto said. “They meet them ahead of time and students already have a familiar face when they reach kindergarten. Our staff arrive on that first day of school to help with the students entering kindergarten. We’re there to comfort and love on those kids as they get off the bus.”
For students receiving therapy, information is passed on to the special education elementary level, further closing the gap children may experience when transitioning from home to kindergarten.
Hopefully, those connections with teachers, staff and parents create a positive experience for every student.
“I think it’s nice for the kids to become a part of the Brownsburg school community,”
said Dr. Katie Mitchell, assistant director of elementary special education. “Families get to know the school district and our certified staff members are getting them ready for the next step. Emily operates as the building principal and really supports the staff, making sure great things are happening, and we’re getting students ready for their entire educational career.”
They may be one of the community’s bestkept secrets, but they don’t want to be.
On January 15 the Brownsburg Early Childhood Center will host an open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
“We have a brand-new playground families can explore,” Zeto said. “Our staff will be here and we’ll be giving tours as well as offering information about our program, developmental concerns, and discussing things parents can do at home. We want the community to know we’re here. Come see the building and the classrooms, and what we’re all about.”
You can be a part of Men IN Action READ 2025!
YOU have a unique role to play in the prevention of abuse! You can show students the impact of positive values, healthy relationships, and a commitment to learning.
MEN, you are needed to read a book to students at a local school on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
