Across Indiana
Indiana’s STRANGEST Race
Clip | 5m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
The Turkey Trot Festival in Montgomery, Indiana is a sight to behold.
Dare we call it... the KenTurkey Derby? Join Across Indiana producer Todd Gould on a journey to the Montgomery Turkey Trot in this classic episode from 1991.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Across Indiana is a local public television program presented by WFYI
Across Indiana
Indiana’s STRANGEST Race
Clip | 5m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Dare we call it... the KenTurkey Derby? Join Across Indiana producer Todd Gould on a journey to the Montgomery Turkey Trot in this classic episode from 1991.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Across Indiana
Across Indiana is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(turkey gobbling) (upbeat banjo music) (upbeat banjo music continues) (upbeat banjo music continues) (turkey chirping) - We thought about doing some kind of a festival, and we couldn't figure out what kind at the moment.
So we thought about corn, and we thought about hogs, and we thought about soybeans, we thought about all kinds of things, and we thought about turkeys.
And we got to thinking, we got a turkey processor here, and that's something kinda unique to the area, so we'll try to do something with turkeys.
And then we kinda developed that and it became the idea for the Turkey Trot.
(upbeat banjo music) And we didn't know exactly how turkeys raced, we didn't know how to train them, but we worked on that a little bit and we got sanctioned by the National Turkey Federation as the only nationally sanctioned races in the country.
(upbeat banjo music continues) The lifecycle, in most of the turkeys that we're working with, isn't all that long.
The incentive is to win, and that way you get past Thanksgiving (chuckling).
(gentle music) (gentle music continues) (turkey gobbling) - We need to have a jockey meeting, this needs to be done within the next five minutes.
Anyone planning on racing a turkey, go to the east end of the track, now.
This is something new, there'll be a judge, and usually the one who's following you is supposed to be the judge, but tonight there will be judges on the stand and from now on there will be judges.
And it'll be their rules that you don't mistreat your turkey.
(upbeat banjo music) Now these turkeys look kinda special, you know, they came from one of our better turkey raisers.
You know, one of the secrets of training 'em out, they're on range and they were running back and forth to get feed, so that makes 'em good and sturdy to run and that helps a lot on training of 'em.
(upbeat banjo music continues) Lots of exercise, that's the way they do the horses, you know, they make 'em run so much, and so that's what we have to do with these turkeys too.
Now, some of them people, when they're training 'em, have a little trouble, they kinda mess the ground up and they step in it once in a while so they have a little bit of trouble with that part of it too, so.
(no audio) - Get you- (turkeys chirping) get a turkey and take it up there, everybody get 'em a turkey and take it up there- (turkeys chirping) Or have your handler to help ya.
(turkeys chirping) - Daddy, (laughing).
- The ones over here, five on that side.
(background talking) Okay, get on your mark, get set.
(gun firing) - [Race Announcer] Okay, they're off!
(upbeat banjo music) (upbeat banjo music continues) (food sizzling) - Yeah, we're serving up the turkey breast sandwiches, these are the ones that didn't make it last year in the races, but they make good eating.
(intense banjo music) (intense banjo music continues) (intense banjo music continues) - Came from Princeton, Indiana, came here because of the bluegrass band 'cause that's all we knew that was here.
When we got here, we found this (laughing).
(upbeat banjo music) It's something unusual, the first time I ever seen one, it's kind of unusual but, not really too entertaining (laughing).
(upbeat banjo music continues) (upbeat banjo music continues) (chuckling) I think turkeys are made more for eating rather than racing.
How about you?
- I think so too, we'll leave that to the horses.
(upbeat banjo music continues) (upbeat banjo music continues) (upbeat banjo music continues) - [Announcer] For more.
"Across Indiana" stories, go to wfyi.org/acrossindiana.
Now PlayingVideo has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 45s | The Turkey Trot Festival in Montgomery, Indiana is a sight to behold. (5m 45s)
The Murat Temple’s Biggest Secret
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 26s | The tale of the ghost that haunts the Murat in downtown Indianapolis. (5m 26s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 52s | Sandhill Cranes make a pit stop in Indiana on their great migration down south. (3m 52s)
How Do Hoosiers Make Apple Cider?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 3s | There’s simply something special about Indiana apple cider. (4m 3s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 10s | The Indiana State Fair has a wide array of queens from all over the state. (4m 10s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 41s | The story of the original home of the Indianapolis Indians, Bush Stadium. (6m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 59s | Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana was America’s first theme park. (4m 59s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 39s | Zaharako’s is a Columbus, Indiana classic for good reason. (4m 39s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 32s | The story of legendary Indiana high school basketball star and trailblazer Oscar Robertson. (5m 32s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 57s | Donaldson’s Finer Chocolates in Lebanon, Indiana is just as magical as Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. (4m 57s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 10s | Kids from around the world come to Culver, Indiana for summer camp. (5m 10s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 9s | The splendor of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work is just down the street. (5m 9s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 52s | The life of Mexican migrant workers in southern Indiana. (4m 52s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 9s | Where the precision of art meets the devotion of faith (5m 9s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 55s | Come on, bro! Pack the sunscreen and beer because we're going to...the Indiana Dunes? (6m 55s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 3s | Let’s go, Jeeps?! Let’s go, Hot Dogs?! (7m 3s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 27s | St. Patrick’s Day brings fun, but it’s also a celebration of Irish culture. In 1995, Across Indiana (4m 27s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 21s | In 1993, Across Indiana producer, Titus Rush, visited a Hoosier buffalo farm. (5m 21s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 9m 52s | Another Indiana?! In 1994, Across Indiana explored its surprising similarities to our own state. (9m 52s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 51s | No date on Valentine’s Day? You’re not alone! Let’s revisit 2006 to explore Cupid’s favorite holiday (4m 51s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 26s | In 1994, David Stoelk visited a Kokomo club where llamas dance too! (4m 26s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 8m 36s | In 1995, Todd Gould highlighted how Robert F. Kennedy delivered the news of Dr. King’s death. (8m 36s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 7s | As Trump’s inauguration nears, Across Indiana explores presidents' notable and obscure health issues (7m 7s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 20s | In this classic episode of Across Indiana Titus Rush explores Ski World in Nashville, IN. (5m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 51s | An elderly disco sensation shares the secret to his happy life. (5m 51s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 1s | The moment when Wabash, IN saw the light, before everyone else. (6m 1s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 9m 54s | The Head of Christ, how an image born from creative desperation went on to reach billions. (9m 54s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 38s | From a quirky idea to a thriving business: the story behind The Bentcil™ Company. (5m 38s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 38s | Join Russell Levitt's beer journey in Bloomington on Across Indiana. (4m 38s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 38s | In this classic Across Indiana we explore the great squirrel invasion in Salem, IN. (7m 38s)
The Music Maker | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 20s | Saxophonist Jimmy Coe's fantastic journey from high school grad to jazz legend. (5m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 12s | From church newsletter to vital Black newspaper, the Indianapolis Recorder's journey. (5m 12s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 12s | Historian Rea Ferguson uncovers the hidden Black history of Indiana's rural communities. (5m 12s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 41s | Explore Madam Walker's legacy and the iconic Madam Walker Theatre. (4m 41s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 12s | Remembering the pottery, simplicity, and unique perspectives of Richard & Marj Peeler. (4m 12s)
The Milkman Cometh | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 8m 12s | Dave Stoelk walks in the shoes of one of the last remaining milkmen, Don France. (8m 12s)
Not-So-Modern Medicine | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 13s | The Indiana Medical History Museum holds many oddities from a time long gone. (4m 13s)
Crossing the Language Barrier | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 10s | In this 2006 episode, William Rasdell used photography and technology to celebrate life. (5m 10s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 42s | Hoosier history at risk! Archivist fights time to save Indiana's past. (7m 42s)
The Swiss Connection | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 17s | Berne, Indiana, was established by Swiss immigrants in the 1800s. (4m 17s)
Spirit of the Season | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 29s | In 1994, "Across Indiana" discovered the Twelve Mile Christmas Pageant. (5m 29s)
Murphy's Lore | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 17s | Join this Hoosier family in the age-old tradition of picking out the family Christmas tree (5m 17s)
Artist Leigh Dunnington Jones | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 1s | Artist Leigh Dunnington Jones makes unusual Christmas sculptures from unwanted materials. (5m 1s)
The Vanishing Hitchhiker | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 2m 55s | Across Indiana re-creates "The Vanishing Hitchhiker", a Hoosier urban legend. (2m 55s)
Tell Helen I Found God | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 7m 58s | Jack Cooper's words survive tragedy in World War II Pacific. (7m 58s)
The Pumpkin Man | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 6m 5s | Check out Pumpkin Fantasyland, one of the country's biggest pumpkin farms. (6m 5s)
Jacoby's Light | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 20s | Does a ghost haunt the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indianapolis? (5m 20s)
Haunted Indiana | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 3m 37s | Across Indiana hosts a sampling of Hoosier Halloween stories from around the state. (3m 37s)
An American Hero | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 5m 46s | World War I veteran Gus Streeter recalls his time in the service at age 105. (5m 46s)
The Indiana War Memorial | Classic Across Indiana
Video has Closed Captions
Clip | 4m 45s | In this archival story, explore the history of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza. (4m 45s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Support for PBS provided by:
Across Indiana is a local public television program presented by WFYI