Brian and Lori Rennekamp will be representing Franklin County in the Children's Advocacy Center's annual Mardi Gras king and queen contest to be held Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at the Lawrenceburg Event Center.

 Brian and Lori met at 19 and 18 years of age while hanging out in downtown Batesville with friends. They married in 1999 at Holy Family Church in Oldenburg and have remained Oldenburg residents ever since. They have three daughters, Isabel (19), Greta (15) and Tess (10). They've also enjoyed hosting exchange students and have gained two "bonus daughters" from the Netherlands and Spain through the exchange experiences. 

 Lori is a 1995 graduate of Oldenburg Academy and a 1999 graduate of Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, where she earned her degree in elementary education with a concentration in English. After graduation she taught art at St. Louis Catholic School in Batesville for two years. She moved to the junior high level where she taught language arts for over two years and served as 8th grade class moderator, yearbook advisor, and coach for both the Drama Club and Speech Team. After the birth of her first daughter, she took a break from teaching and went to work in her dad's dental office as a dental assistance/office manager. Today, she is the proud owner of her own 6-year-old small business, Bird in a Tree Boutique. It is a brick-and-mortar women's clothing store in downtown Batesville offering trendy styles in all sizes, unique gifts, accessories and home goods. The boutique is very community-oriented, and Lori loves holding in-store events, fundraising, collaborating with other businesses, and hopefully inspiring others to follow their dreams. She also enjoys reading, art, music, and concerts, exercising so she can enjoy her food and wine passion, spending time with friends and family and traveling. 

Brian is a 1994 graduate of Batesville High School where he spent most of his time studying art and drafting. These interests were carried forward through collegiate studies, eventually leading to early careers in the drafting and mechanical design fields in Greenwood and Indianapolis, then eventually back to hometown Batesville. Through the career path, a lifelong interest in woodworking was rediscovered and a "side hustle" became a small business, eventually growing from a backyard business to the respected company (originating in 2002 as The Village Workshop, Inc) known today as 1210 Studio. 1210 Studio is a diverse and forward-thinking design-focused company creating high-end custom residential and commercial cabinetry, millwork, art and other creative (sometimes unusual) commissioned projects. 1210 Studio work can be found throughout SE Indiana, all around the metro of Cincinnati, Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Chicago, Boston, and even as far as the Cayman Islands. Those who know Brian well are aware of his culinary spirit and passion, which has recently opened doors for a new venture named table825.

 table825 began as a bit of a culinary experiment but is quickly gaining followers and has created a buzz among a community where something like this isn't as common as what can be found in larger metros. The primary focus of table825 is to bring friends (new and old) together in a small group/intimate yet casual setting, focusing on the timeless art of creating and preparing creative worldly coursed menus typically paired with wines and cocktails. Brian enjoys the interaction of inviting guests to share in the preparation of the dishes, while others enjoy a fine dining experience specifically catered to their tastes. A goal was that the table825 culinary experiences would force Brian and guests to 'slow down,' and this has proven successful with many coursed dinners lasting six or more hours. 

Brian says, "This is the way society used to connect, and I think we've lost a lot of that along the way in our busy modern lives. This has been so much fun to create and has been received more openly than I'd have ever hoped. My goal is that someday it can become more, whatever that may be."

Brian also enjoys volunteering his time to the Batesville Main Street Committee and other endeavors in and around the community. He plays guitar, enjoys classic cars and is the best husband and girl dad his family could ask for. 

 Brian and Lori have been busy over the last several months raising money for the Children's Advocacy Center.  The couple that raises the most money will be crowned king and queen of the event.  If you would like to vote for Brian and Lori, go to the CAC's website at cacsoutheast.org.  Click on the Mardi Gras tab.  From there, scroll down and click on the donate button on the Jefferson County tab.  The cost is $1 per vote. If you are interested in attending the Mardi Gras fundraiser, contact the Children's Advocacy Center at 812-432-3200 for tickets.