Plainfield Magazine July 2024

Run for It

Alex Baker Becomes a MarathonLevel Runner to Benefit Charities and Honor His Late Wife

Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life Festivals Returning Bigger Than Ever

PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE

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RUN FOR IT

ALEX BAKER

BECOMES A MARATHON-LEVEL RUNNER TO BENEFIT CHARITIES AND HONOR HIS LATE WIFE

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Alex Baker of Brownsburg had it all - a wife ofeight years and a 3-year-old son.

Then tragedy struck.

Baker’s wife, Amanda, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, and after chemotherapy, radiation and 16 months of excruciating pain, she passed away in February of 2019.

“You never expect this to happen in your mid-30s,” Baker said. “You should never have to tell your 4-year-old that their mom has died.”

As a young single dad, Baker went through many of the struggles expected when losing a loved one. He had been the primary caregiver for Amanda and was left trying to figure out how to care of his son, Riley, in the best possible way.

Baker admittedly set aside his own needs. He wasn’t exercising, eating healthy or taking care of himself.

After a friend told him, “You don’t move on, you move forward,” Baker took the first step toward creating the life he wanted for himself and Riley.

Exercise Inc in Brownsburg offers a 20-minute workout once per week, and Baker thought he could surely find 20 minutes.

“I told the gentleman at Exercise Inc that my son shouldn’t lose another parent because I can’t find time to exercise, eat right or make better choices,” Baker said.

They inspired him by creating small benchmarks each week.

“It’s just a lot of little changes,” he said. “This week, drink more water. Next week, eat more vegetables. You look up 20 weeks later and you’ve changed all these habits. It worked for me, and I had stopped eating fast food and drinking soda.”

He lost an initial 25 pounds and was on a forward-thinking path, and then the pandemic hit, slowing everything down for everyone.

“I became sort of stagnant and really needed to get out of the

house, so I started walking,” he said. “I started small and added a little more each day. The Indianapolis 500 Mile Challenge had begun that summer. I decided I was going to do it and I just focused on walking a mile each day, building up to several miles per day.”

He completed the challenge and didn’t stop there. “I thought, ‘If I can walk 500 miles, could I run?’” he said. “It’s something I could never do. There was no way.”

He found another challenge - run 100 miles over the course of one month - and did it again.

“As we moved into 2021 I started hiking, running 10 miles at a time, and coming up on the second anniversary of Amanda’s passing, I decided I’d run a half marathon,” Baker said. “It was something I never thought was possible for me.”

It hasn’t been without setbacks.

Baker credits Athletico Physical Therapy for getting him back on his feet after a running injury. They gave him a “tune-up” and relieved the pain for someone putting 20 to

40 miles on their feet each week.

He ran that half marathon, and since then has completed four half marathons. That accomplishment led to completion of the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, which is a full marathon, and Baker hired a running coach to help with future plans.

Today Baker has a new goal in mind, and he’s joining an elite group of marathoners.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors consists of the six largest marathons in the world: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.

“I did the NYC and Boston Marathons already,” Baker said. “I’m scheduled for the Chicago Marathon in October. My goal is to finish the U.S. ones by the time I’m 40, and then complete the remaining international ones in the coming years after that. Only 12,000 people have completed all six.”

In honor of Amanda, Baker wants to give back too. He raised $6,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the New York City Marathon, and will raise funds for charity again for the Boston and Chicago marathons.

While Baker has lost weight, is physically fit and continues to meet the goals he sets for himself, the mission is larger than just the physical benefits.

He became aware throughout his journey of the many people listening and watchingthe people on the sidelines cheering him on.

“I’m told it’s inspiring,” Baker said. “So many of us struggle with grief and loss. We struggle to get out of bed or move forward, and I do this in honor of Amanda. She loved the song ‘Strong All Along’ by 311 and I had some wristbands made with that saying. I’ve had temporary tattoos put on my arm with her handwriting to remind myself I can get through this.”

Riley is now 9 and is proud to see the accomplishments his dad has made. He knows the marathons are in honor of his mom, and in a way it keeps her memory alive.

Alex & son, Riley, after recent race

“It was painful and terrible to watch,” Baker said. “Amanda died a week after our 10-year anniversary. Losing your mom at 4 years old forever changes you, but through this we’re able to remember, we tell stories about her and we never forget.”

The daily runs have reminded Baker to take time for himself. They’ve also reminded him that he can undertake hard tasks, and he’s an example for his son that Amanda would be proud of.

“I think Amanda would have been a fantastic cheerleader for me,” he said. “She knew if I set my mind to do it, I’d be dedicated. She’d encourage and push and help me get there, but five years ago if you told her this is what I was going to do, she would have laughed

at you. The personal growth has been so important. For some it’s reading or learning a new skill. For me, running has been so instrumental to who I am today, I don’t expect it to go away any time soon.”

It’s hard to say what his next steps will be after he completes the marathons, but he hopes to continue sharing the message of hope and perseverance through difficult times.

Visit linktree/alexanderdbaker to donate toward Baker’s marathon fundraising event. Up next, he will be raising $10,000 and running for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

CLOSETS BY DESIGN

Alex, Amanda & Riley - 2018

TICKET

FRUITFUL FESTIVAL

BEASLEY’S ORCHARD REMAINS A LOCAL AND REGIONAL FAVORITE FOR UPCOMING SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL AND MUCH MORE

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Have you ever seen a field of sunflowers?

It’s the sort of thing seen on a road trip when you pull the car over and snap a few pictures. Now, Beasley’s Orchard is giving residents a chance to enjoy sunflowers close to home.

Beasley’s Orchard is a third-generation farm in Danville, started by Milton and Irene Beasley in 1946. Over the years, what began as a livestock farm on 80 acres eventually became a 165-acre agritourism destination.

By the 1980s families were taking trips to Beasley’s each fall to enjoy a traditional hayride and U-pick pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. In 1986 the first Heartland Apple Festival was held on the farm and quickly became a community tradition.

When the youngest generation of Beasleys came home from college in 2015, there was a huge shift to invest in agritourism, and in fact the family was one of the first in central Indiana to adopt the agritourism business model.

It seems like every year something new is added, from U-pick opportunities to festival days. The annual Sunflower Festival is a threeweek event in late July or early August.

“We started the Sunflower Festival in 2020,” said Jim Finley, marketing manager. “We wanted something fun for guests that would arrive a little earlier than our well-known fall season.”

Residents in Hendricks County and visitors

across the state welcomed the addition wholeheartedly. More than 10,000 people typically visit over the three weekends. This year Beasley’s will be open throughout the week for the sunflowers too. The vast fields are something to behold, if for no other reason than to see them, but there are other benefits as well.

“There are over eight acres of sunflower blooms,” Finley said. “They get to be four and a half feet tall, and I think just scanning over the tops of all of those flowers amazes people. Most of them are yellow but we also have red, orange and multicolored flowers. It’s hard to have a bad time when you’re surrounded by a bunch of sunflowers.”

Visitors can cut one sunflower free with the cost of a ticket, but there are options to pick a bouquet in the unlimited stem bucket for an additional fee.

Like much of the agricultural world, the Beasley’s staff members don’t know exactly when the bloom will happen until a week or two ahead of time, so things often happen quickly, from announcing the festival to last-minute entertainment. What they know for sure is the festival includes highly anticipated activities visitors look forward to year after year.

Thousands want to have their photo taken against the beautiful backdrop of sunflowers and sunset, or the clear blue sky and colors of yellow, green and more.

• Tree Removal, Topping & Trimming

• Shrub Trimming & Removal

• Light Hauling

• Construction Clean-up

• Junk Removal

• Brush Pile Cleaning

• Garage/Basement/ Attic Cleanout

• Gutter Cleaning

• Mini Barn / Shed / Fence / Deck Demolition & Removal

• Appliance / E-Waste Removal

• Stump Grinding

Given the wild popularity of photo opportunities, Beasley’s has made a little change to the usual guidelines regarding photography. Typically, professional photographers are required to schedule and pay a fee for use of the farm. For the Sunflower Festival, it’s fair game.

“We ask that everyone pays their admission and photographers are welcome,” Finley said. “It’s not uncommon for photographers to have three or four sessions per day and we want to keep it easy for everyone.”

In addition, the sunflower event will bring all of the fun expected for fall festivals.

“There will be food trucks, beer and wine vendors, snacks, and the Barnyard Bonanza will be open,” Finley said.

The Barnyard Bonanza features the jumbo jumping pillow, sports target toss, cornhole, apple cannons and other activities for the entire family.

In addition, the Civil War-era Barn Market will be open, and will feature homegrown produce from the farm as well as locally sourced produce, including homemade apple cider (an award winner), homemade baked goods and more.

“It’s quite a bit of maintenance,” Finley added. “We’re fertilizing, watering and weeding during the hot summer season. Every aspect of the farm takes a lot of maintenance. Mother Nature often has her own game plan so that can be a challenge.”

All of the maintenance and care put forth at the farm will pay off as Beasley’s moves into the fall season.

The popular U-Pick season begins in late May and June with U-pick strawberries. In June and July visitors can participate in U-pick raspberries. The sunflowers then emerge along with U-pick apples by mid-August.

They’re particularly looking forward to apple picking season.

“There are multiple reasons to visit the farm all year long,” Finley said. “Over the past three years the farm was severely impacted by a late spring frost. It sort of diminished the apple crop. This year we did not have that late front so we’re excited that the apple crop looks phenomenal. I think we’ll have more apple picking than we’ve ever had in 2024.”

Also new this year, the fall festivities will begin a week earlier than usual on September 14. Opening weekend is September 14 and 15, and will include hayrides, a trip to the pumpkin patch, the popular corn maze with a bicentennial theme, apple cannons, straw mountain and other Barnyard Bonanza activities.

Hometown Heroes will return on September 21 and 22, with a focus on expressing thanks to local first responders and military personnel. Those men and women receive free admission and their immediate family members receive 50% off of admission.

The Heartland Apple Festival is September 28 and 29, and October 5 and 6. Enjoy two full weekends featuring live music, craft vendors, balloon magic, face painting and other activities.

Dog Daze at the Maze is October 12 and 13, and brings our furry four-legged friends to the farm. The weekend includes pet costume contests, talent shows and local animal rescue groups.

Finally, Halloween festivities will be on the horizon, October 19 and 20, and October 26 and 27, with pumpkin carving contests, pumpkin picking, candy giveaways and costume contests.

Even when the fall comes to a close, visitors can still catch Christmas at the Orchard, offering a special holiday-themed event. It makes Beasley’s a go-to location, more than six months of the year.

Finley said one of their most common questions is regarding the four-legged family members in our lives. Beasley’s is pet friendly. Just keep your furry friends on a leash and pick up after them.

“Our slogan is ‘Harvesting Family Memories,’” Finley said. “When you do all of this hard work and then see the customers come out and truly enjoy the farm, it makes it all worth it.”

Visit beasleys-orchard.com for more information or to purchase tickets.

JULY CROSSWORD

Solutions

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A long time

Remarkable events

Refreshments booths

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15. Bewildered 19. Sponged 21. Swiftest 22. Open mouth wide 23. Poultry products

Calming drug

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Cavorts

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10. Was obliged to pay 11. Ship’s spine 12. Lump of turf

Water 14. Door handle 15. Muslim temple 16. Dance nightclubs

17. Painters’ tripods

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19. Loved excessively, ... on 20. Prejudiced person

WELL-STAGED

BOURBON & BEYOND AND LOUDER THAN LIFE FESTIVALS RETURNING BIGGER THAN EVER

Celebrating its sixth installment, Bourbon & Beyond returns for its biggest year yet. Produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, the world’s largest bourbon and music festival is set to take the stage this September 19 through 22 at Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center. With two new music stages and 40 extra music acts for 2024, this expansion brings the total to five dynamic music stages hosting 100 talented artists, alongside captivating culinary and bourbon workshop stages, promising an unforgettable affair.

“Beyond the music, the festival has so

many great experiences,” said Chamie McCurry, chief marketing officer for Danny Wimmer Presents. “There is something for everyone there. We will have some special programming and great partnership activations throughout the event. It’s an amazing festival experience from beginning to end.”

This year’s all-star lineup of music artists spans generations and genres, with legends Neil Young and Beck on Thursday, Dave Matthews Band and Tedeschi Trucks Band on Friday, Zach Bryan and Cody Jinks on Saturday, and Tyler Childers and My

Morning Jacket on Sunday, along with Matchbox Twenty, The National, Whiskey Myers, Black Pumas, The War On Drugs, The Beach Boys, Mt. Joy, Fleet Foxes, Young the Giant, Maren Morris, The Head and the Heart, Melissa Etheridge, Teddy Swims, and many more.

The festival attracts concertgoers from all over the world. Indeed, Bourbon & Beyond’s annual success has made it a can’tmiss event. Fans come from all 50 states and over 25 countries to Louisville for an unforgettable four-day journey filled with great music, tasty bourbon and renowned

restaurant offerings.

Louisville is known for its southern hospitality. It’s where May is Kentucky Derby season, and now September has become festival season, stretching the city’s tourist season well into the fall. The tourism dollars generated from Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life have made it a true economic boon for the city that welcomes horse racing and sports fans.

Outside of the great music acts are the culinary experiences with Food Network stars and “Chopped” judges Amanda Freitag and Chris Santos, James Beard Award-winning Chef and Author Ed Lee, and Kroger’s Wine and Spirits Expert Chris Blandford. Each day will see bourbon panels, tastings and food demonstrations with artists, bourbon experts and celebrity chefs.

The music lineup at Bourbon & Beyond is extensive and spans generations of music. In fact, new acts are still being announced. “Our talent team prides itself on putting out the best lineup every year and being better than the year before,” McCurry said. “They have a lot of pride in curating that lineup specifically for the fans. We want to provide something new and something they love so people want to come back and experience it again.”

Passes are available to purchase at bourbonandbeyond.com and fans can lock them in as low as $10 down.

The weekend after Bourbon & Beyond, rock takes center stage for Louder Than Life, America’s biggest rock festival. With 140-plus bands over five stages, Louder will welcome Slipknot, Slayer, Motley Crue, Korn, Disturbed, Evanescence, Judas Priest and many more, September 26 through 29 at the same festival site.

Danny Wimmer Presents and the city of Louisville are ready to shine bright when they welcome the biggest eight days of music in the U.S., and host over 400,000 fans between the two festivals this September.

THE LINEUP INCLUDES:

Zach Bryan, Dave Matthews Band, Tyler Childers, Neil Young, Beck, Matchbox Twenty, The National, My Morning Jacket, The War On Drugs, Whiskey Myers, Cody Jinks, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Black Pumas, The Beach Boys, Mt. Joy, Fleet Foxes, Young the Giant, Maren Morris, The Head and the Heart, Melissa Etheridge, Teddy Swims, Koe Wetzel, Milky Chance, The Red Clay Strays, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, KALEO, Sierra Ferrell, Charles Wesley Godwin, Shane Smith & The Saints, The Wallflowers, Cory Wong, X Ambassadors, Sunny Day Real Estate, Dinosaur Jr., Larkin Poe, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, Lucius, JJ Grey & Mofro, Beth Hart, Allen Stone, Wilder Woods, Niko Moon, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, The War and Treaty, Ole 60, Larry Fleet, Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Mat Kearney, Arlo Parks, Hiss Golden Messenger, Smith & Myers, BRELAND, Patty Smyth, Wyatt Flores, Cimafunk, Futurebirds, The Bacon Brothers, M. Ward, Soul Asylum, Son Volt, Jade Bird, Neal Francis, Suzanne Vega, Wild Rivers, Dexter and The Moonrocks, KT Tunstall, The Dip, Meg Myers, Samantha Fish, Amigo the Devil, The Record Company, Taylor Acorn, Dan Tyminski, The Sam Bush Band, The Jerry Douglas Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Tony Trischka’s EarlJam, Sister Sadie, Devon Gilfillian, Robert Finley, Abby Anderson, Abraham Alexander, Vincent Neil Emerson, Andy Frasco & The U.N Royel Otis., Mac Saturn, Jake Kohn, The Castellows, Madi Diaz, Motherfolk, Grace Bowers, Mapache, Maggie Antone, Briscoe, Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, Hueston, Robert Jon & the Wreck, The Brothers Comatose, Theo Lawrence, Colby T. Helms and The Virginia Creepers, Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays, New Dangerfield, Big Richard, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Chatham County Line, Tray Wellington Band, The Kentucky Gentlemen, Lizzie No, The Jacob Jolliff Band, East Nash Grass, The Local Honeys, Mountain Grass Unit, Kaia Kater, The Last Revel, Kyle Ray and more.

PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE

Gone are the days of school choirs standing at attention on the bleachers, dressed in somber colors and singing their hearts out.

Choir, like many extracurricular activities at the high school level, has evolved to what audience members might call a full-fledged show. Packed with colorful costumes, unique music, dance numbers and more, if you haven’t

attended a choir concert lately, you might be surprised.

The five (soon to be six) choirs offered at Plainfield High School (PHS) are a great example of students truly putting their best foot forward, and it’s paying off.

Les Chanteuses, the men’s chorus, and the up-and-coming sixth offering for women’s

beginner show choir, are opportunities for all students to dip their toe in the water. They learn about music and performance, and host a concert three times each year.

Head Choir Director Michael Hummel said even the beginner choir performances are packed with unique music selections and a ton of fun at each concert.

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne & PCSC

Nouvelles is a junior varsity show choir for men and women.

Femmes Fatales is an advanced-level, all-women show choir. For the first time in PHS history, Femmes Fatales qualified for the 2024 Indiana State School Music Association state concert choir finals and tied for second place, ultimately taking third at the tie breaker.

Last but not least, Belles and Beaux is an advanced male and female show choir.

They most recently returned to the state finals for a second time and placed sixth, their highest placement to date.

Belles and Beaux has been a PHS choir staple for 45 years, but things have changed as Plainfield has grown.

In the past, PHS choir students were considered a part of the small-school competitions and have had some success, but as the district continues to grow, PHS students now qualify for the large-school

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competitions, pitting them against the best of the best. In fact, they are now the largest show choir in the state of Indiana.

Hummel is completing his third year as head choir director at PHS.

“We’ve had a lot of success over the past couple of years,” Hummel said. “Right after the pandemic it was a hard time for the arts, so we basically started from scratch. We’ve gone from 140 choir students to over 200 in the program. The

music is current, cool, and it’s an awesome thing to be a part of, so I think more students are getting involved.”

Not only do they want to get involved, but Hummel also wants to make it easy to join, regardless of other extracurricular activities or sports programs.

“I want to make it easy to be successful,” Hummel said. “A lot of times you see kids who can’t be in sports and in choir at the same time, but we offer a great amount of flexibility. If you want choir to be a part of your life, we’ll make it work.”

As a former coach, Hummel knows the demands and expectations for students. He operates the choir program similar to a sport, minus the pressure.

“A lot of the guys like that,” he said. “They don’t want to come to choir and sing ‘Kumbaya’. It’s got to be cool and fun, and we get to compete against others. We have honor-roll kids, football players, you name it. We cut a swatch of students from every demographic at school.”

The cool factor was there this year with a viking theme and a Mardi Gras theme. Perhaps their confidence in the performance, and the chance to perform as another character while using their skills, is too good to pass up. It’s being a part of something this big that draws the students in, and they also have opportunities to help and guide each other.

“For some students, this is their place of success,” Hummel said. “We have a really dynamic student leadership. It’s handson, and what a way to set them up for the future as they mentor and lead each other.”

Regardless of how they ended up in the choir, the growth and development Hummel sees is undeniable. Students are improving their musical skills and talents, but they’re gaining life skills and confidence too.

“Choir is just a vehicle for students to

Michael Hummel leads students in rehearsal.

he said. “We’re asking them to sing and dance in front of 1,000 people and it helps them grow and challenge themselves. It’s soft skills - how to communicate and express yourself positively. It might not be bio med, but it does help them prepare for the real world.”

Their involvement sets them apart on college applications and job opportunities. Anyone who knows anything about show choir can imagine the amount of work it must take to perform a 20-minute, aerobic dance and singing show. It tells others they are ready for a challenge and are willing to see tough days through for the bigger picture.

As for all of their recent success, Hummel said that wasn’t by chance.

The school supports the choir with a six-figure budget, allowing for the best costumes, sets and even digital advancements. One young lady recently wore a costume nearing $500 for all the intricately hand-sewn embellishments.

Hummel said to think of it like a traveling musical, which includes custom musical arrangements.

“Jarad Voss is one of the best choreographers in the country and he works with us every year,” Hummel said. “We often work directly with music artists. When we’re able to put real experts in front of our kids, that’s always

helpful.”

Don’t forget about the parents and overall community support.

“Plainfield is special,” Hummel said. “Our choir programs have a great tradition of parent support. There’s a heritage and pride in being a part of this.”

It’s all necessary to continue the growth and development needed to reach those award-winning levels. In other words, in order to compete, one has to stay in the game.

“We’re constantly pressing the envelope,” Hummel said. “If you want to stay at the top, you’ve got to explore new avenues. I think we’re just at the beginning of what we can do. We’re just beginning to see our potential.”

If this year’s results are any indication, the PHS choirs are headed in the right

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