Tipton Magazine May 2023

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Feeling Good Indeed

THE FEEL GOODS STORE IS A LABOR OF LOVE FOR OWNER ALANA BREWER

Writer / Natalie Platt

Photography Provided

To understand how proud Alana Brewer is of her store full of handmade items, The Feel Goods, one must understand her past.

“My background is in the automotive business, from detailing and changing oil in a service shop to title work to dealer auctions,” Brewer says. “I’ve always loved cars, but not the industry.”

Brewer’s life never seemed to be headed where she thought it would be - working various jobs she didn’t like as a divorced mom, knowing she was creative enough to do more with her career.

“One day the hope was bigger than the fear and I went for it,” she says. “I’ve always had creativity in my veins, so I am very thankful the universe chose the creative path for me.”

Brewer’s store, The Feel Goods, opened out of her home in 2016 and remained there until she opened her first storefront in

downtown Tipton in 2021.

“It was pretty obvious I wasn’t going to fit into my original downtown space long, so I began looking for a new space in 2022 and annoyed the guy who owned the space, as it was not for lease and was in major disrepair until he agreed to lease it to me,” she says.

As of early 2023, The Feel Goods is in its new, cozy storefront in downtown Tipton, giving Brewer even more room to expand. Just a few doors west of the original downtown location, the quiet, small town

has helped facilitate success for the former auto-shop employee turned entrepreneur.

The colorful store is mostly known for its handmade items not only made by Brewer herself, but also from other local makers. Top sellers include graphic tees, custom spirit wear and upcycles (vintage pieces used to create new clothing pieces), earrings, stainedglass suncatchers and candles. The store sells accessories, bags and hats as well.

“I’d always done a lot of sewing,” Brewer says. “Weighted blankets were one of my first big sellers that gave me hope that this might work full time. I also did some reupholstery and furniture revamps. Then came the custom apparel, which kept me busy for the next four years.”

The Feel Goods store employs two people, Brewer and her best friend, along with several family members who are always volunteering their time.

Brewer feels a special tie to Tipton, as most of her family history has been built in this small town.

“I was born and raised in Tipton, as was my mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, and I’m raising my daughters here too,” she says. “I feel deeply rooted to Tipton and am sentimental about this place, and am incredibly proud to have established my business here.”

Brewer sees the store always staying in Tipton, and tries not to think too much about the future.

“I’m very happy with today and try not to think too much about tomorrow,” she says.

The Feel Goods store is located at 114 West Jefferson Street in Tipton. You can find the store on Facebook and Instagram @ thefeelgoodsllc.

PONY UP

RIDING HIGH WITH KANTERING KIDS

tracks, to watch how trainers and owners prepare the horses and tack needed.

Kantering Kids 4-H Horse & Pony Club, the second-oldest club in Tipton County, focuses on horses and the study of horsemanship, as well as the caring and feeding of the horses.

“We meet on the first and third Monday of each month and do our best to schedule around holidays and school activities,” says Sammy Ziegler, former Kantering Kids 4-H member and current club leader. “The ages of club members range from junior members, third grade to eighth grade, to senior members, ninth grade through 12th grade. For kindergarten through second grade, we have a mini program where they have their own show during the county fair.”

Kantering Kids 4-H focuses on hippology, the study of horses, during the winter months. Club members learn about all parts of the horse, along with saddle and equipment knowledge that may be needed in the daily care of horses. For a hands-on approach, the club has taken barn tours at training facilities and visited various race

“We are a very active club year-round and are very involved in our community, and love to help where we can,” Ziegler says. “A couple years ago we got word that Tipton County was going to finally get a muchneeded animal shelter, but they needed the funding to get started. At a meeting we started brainstorming and came up with the idea to have a Festival for Animals. We invited several groups and organizations to set up booths, such as items for sale, games and face painting. The club decided to have pony rides, a petting zoo, and to rent a dunk tank. It was well-received by the community and we had a full day of fun and activities with the community members, with all proceeds going straight to the shelter fund.”

The rodeo is the group’s most popular event of the year, having resumed in 2018 after the last local rodeo in 1977.

“My mom and dad were rodeo stock contractors and traveled many miles to promote the sport of rodeo, and held that responsibility for 42 years before

retiring in 1983,” Ziegler says. “I had a little background and knew enough to be dangerous, so we formed a rodeo committee and kicked around what we needed to make it work.”

The rodeo was put on through Three Bar J Rodeo Company, owned by Mike and Marcia Johnson. The Johnsons were also stock contractors and knew Ziegler and her parents from years past, so it was a natural fit for Ziegler to trust them with bringing the rodeo back to Tipton.

However, the week leading up to the rodeo, and the day of the event, didn’t quite go as planned.

“On Thursday before the rodeo it rained over three inches,” Ziegler says. “The Three Bar J crew worked all night Friday and all morning on Saturday to make everything perfect, and we thought we were ready. It was 4 p.m. on Saturday, the rodeo started at 7 p.m. and there were hardly any people there. I wanted to cry.”

With a little help from WWKI radio station’s live broadcast, the sun finally came out

Writer / Natalie Platt Photography Provided

4-H HORSE & PONY CLUB

and cars were lined bumper to bumper on Highway 19 in June of 2018, waiting to see the first rodeo in Tipton in 41 years.

“It was a crazy weekend and we made a lot of mistakes, but we have learned from them,” Ziegler says. “The rodeo keeps getting bigger and better every year. The rodeo also has a few things earlier in the day for the community, including pony rides for the kids and a petting zoo.”

The Tipton rodeo is sanctioned by two different Rodeo Associationsthe International Professional Rodeo Association and the Mid-States Rodeo Association. These entities sanction rodeos you might see on TV, with June being known as “Cowboy Christmas” on the rodeo circuit. There are several rodeos throughout the Midwest during June and contestants enter as many as possible, hoping to win prize money.

“The rodeo contestants we talk to love

coming to Tipton,” Ziegler says. “They love the hospitality and our fairgrounds.” The 2023 rodeo is on Saturday, June 24 at 7 p.m.

The cost of the rodeo is upwards of $20,000, and Kantering Kids 4-H is grateful for their 2023 sponsors, including Elbrecht Investments LLC, Encompass Credit Union, American Legion Post 46, Broken Strand Ranch, Ziggy’s Customs, TNT Auto Sales, Cardini’s/Pizza King Tipton, Larson & Sons Shooting Supplies, Simpson Trucking, Clouser Group Ace Hardware, Hoosier Bin Company LLC, Tipton Lions Club, Central Indiana Gun Shows, Beck’s, Jen’s Therapeutic Massage, Logan, Graham & Connor Accountants, First Farmers Bank & Trust, and Farmers Mutual Insurance, as well as donations by Rutledge Well Drilling & Pump Service, Tipton Moose Lodge #1590 and Pam Millikan.

For information on Kantering Kids 4-H or to become a rodeo sponsor, call Sammy Ziegler at 317-385-7263.

Pawpular Pets Tipton’s

OLIVER JAMES

COOPER

LACI

CHIP

PHOEBE

SCARLET

FINN

JAC AND CHARLI

WINKIE LOU LIENERTH

MILLIE

CORA