Indiana’s 52nd Governor Mike Braun visited Glover’s Ice Cream factory in Frankfort Wednesday afternoon. Braun met with community leaders and “The Glover Five” owners of the newly renovated facility.
The Governor was briefed on the rich 100 year history of the three generation popular ice cream factory. Foster Glover in 1925 made his first Ice Cream sandwiches and sold them on the Monon Line Railway for 25 cents each. Bob and Virginia were second generation, and Steve and Kathy Glover were third generation. Glover’s Ice Cream Company was sold by the Glover family in 2019. Unfortunately after several setbacks, Glover’s came close to closing its doors by the end of 2023. Under new ownership from “The Glover Five”, Glover’s has experienced a new life with a keen focus on restoration of the production process and a strong marketing effort while adhering to and building on the 100 year “Glover’s Way”.
Glover’s specializes in high quality ice cream made from popular recipes using superior ingredients produced in relatively small batches.
Glover’s is the oldest Ice Cream manufacturer in Indiana, enduring the test of 100 years of production spanning three generations. The current owners, also called “The Glover Five” are locally involved and live, work and play in the North-Central Indiana community.
Frankfort Mayor, Judy Sheets welcomed the Governor. “Welcome to Frankfort. Honor to have you with us today. We’re excited about this (and) so happy they’ve invested in this. Everyone wanted Glover’s Ice Cream and we thought it was gone and they saved it. So thank you for doing that. We are very fortunate to have them willing to make that investment in our community.”
Glover’s on Thursday will make 8,000 Ice Cream Cups made by 11 team members.
Frankfort Commissioner President Jordan Brewer recalled Mike Braun’s 2024 visit to the Frankfort Community at the Trinity (Hope Center). “I appreciate everything these guys are doing to revitalize this small business because, as you know, that’s the heart of small rural communities and without them, we cannot survive.”
Braun said “I visit each county (in Indiana) every year.” Braun said he was used to signing the front side of many checks, running small businesses. Braun ran a turkey production facility for 33 years starting in 1979 and sold it to his partner’s kids and grandkids in 2012. It grew from three original buildings to 15. He also owned a truck accessory business that grew into “The American Dream”, now IMPCO or Indiana Machine Parts Company, a scrappy small business that grew into 90 locations in four states.
Dan Fleming with Home National Bank was at the gathering. “We’re very happy to invest in Frankfort and Clinton County. We’re a small bank ourselves with two branches. We want to give back to the community and this is a good way.”
Eric Woods, owner of Schulz market, was Glover’s first customer after renovation, followed by Wesley Manor, Beef and Boards, hospitals, Universities, restaurants and many others, including a growing list of schools throughout the state. Glover’s hopes to eventually partner with 70% of Schools in Indiana.
During the meeting, a presentation was made to the Governor showing the latest on a new major agricultural facility coming to Clinton County. More information about this 400 million dollar Clinton County investment will be made available soon.
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