Community News

Howdy Holmes, CEO of “Jiffy Mix” will speak at the Depot on Monday, May 6, at 7 pm in the Depot.  This program is free to members of Chelsea Area Historical Society, and $10 for non-members.

Howdy Holmes started working in the family business, Chelsea Milling Company, in 1963. He learned the company from the ground up during summer breaks and throughout his high school and college years.

Howdy left the company in 1968, saying he would return. First, he was going to pursue his boyhood dream to be a race car driver. He spent 20 years in motorsports: winning regional races, the Formula Atlantic Championship, and Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500 in 1979. He competed in the Indy 500 six times, qualifying on the front row in 1984 and held the best average finishing record of anyone who started more than four events from 1911 through 1988, when he retired from racing.

Howdy operated a motorsports marketing company and advertising company, serving the motorsports community. He authored an award-winning book, “Formula Car Technology” and was a contributing writer for various magazines and newspapers about racing. He was one of the first color commentators of racing for ESPN.

Howdy rejoined the family business in 1987 saying, “The relationships between racing teams and manufacturing are kind of twin sisters in the sense that you’re always trying to improve something with the mechanical equipment.”

Howdy has led the transformation of the then 100+ year-old family business. Known for their quality and value, “JIFFY” leads the market in retail prepared baking mixes.