An ordinary summer day turns into an unforgettable experience for the likeable Luxembourger Thierry Mersch. The winner of the Herbacin Challenge 2020 – Digital redeemed the first part of his prize on August 14: a meet and greet with Joey and Luke Kelly.
Already at breakfast in the hotel, Thierry showed unusual signs of nervousness. In just a few hours, the big event with Joey and Luke Kelly would take place at their farm in Lohmar. What exactly awaited him, Thierry didn’t know. In beautiful sunshine and warm summer temperatures, Thierry and his companions from the German family-owned company Herbacin—who have been hosting the annual Herbacin Challenge with Joey Kelly for five years—enjoyed a boat trip along the Rhine. In a short interview, Thierry spoke about his experiences during the Herbacin Challenge 2020 and admitted how excited he was: “If there were a device to measure it, it would probably explode. I’m really nervous!”
The event begins!
In the afternoon, the time had finally come. The closer they got to Joey and Luke Kelly’s property, the quieter Thierry became. But upon arrival at the Kellys’ historic estate, the ice was quickly broken. After a warm welcome and an overview of the day’s agenda, Thierry couldn’t stop smiling. The first activity was a ride in the iconic van that Joey and Luke Kelly had driven all the way from Berlin to Beijing, taking them across the expansive property. Their destination: an indoor riding arena, where Thierry faced off against Joey Kelly in a game of car soccer. An oversized ball, two small cars, and two goals—score as many goals as possible! An absolute blast.
Keeping it active
After this adventure, Thierry and Luke headed out for a run through the forest. Refreshed by a brief rain shower, the action continued on two wheels as Thierry joined Joey Kelly for a mountain bike tour through stunning scenery, heading toward the Wahnbach Reservoir. The view was simply breathtaking.
Like a museum
But that was far from everything! Back at the farm, Joey gave his guests a personal tour of the grounds. The spacious, beautifully restored barns, exhibits from the legendary Kelly Family, countless props from the famous “Raab events” where Joey Kelly consistently achieved top results, and of course, an impressive collection of vehicles—all were on display. A true highlight was the legendary Kelly Family bus, which Thierry had the exclusive chance to see up close.
After a relaxed dinner and many great conversations, Joey invited his guests into the chapel. There, his daughter Lillian gave a small private concert that truly touched everyone’s hearts. As a special highlight, Thierry even got to sing the iconic Kelly Family song “An Angel” together with Lillian and Joey Kelly. By this point, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. While a small thunderstorm rolled in outside, the traditional campfire was already being prepared. But before it reached full blaze, Thierry was in for yet another surprise: Joey had prepared one of his inspirational talks exclusively for him. A true highlight for Thierry, who had never experienced one of Joey Kelly’s talks before. To top it all off, Thierry received a large package of Joey Kelly’s latest books—personally signed, of course.
The wonderful day came to a close around the campfire. The meaningful conversations, unforgettable moments, and unique setting made this an extraordinary experience—not only for the winner of the Herbacin Challenge, but for everyone involved.
We would also like to take this opportunity to warmly thank Joey Kelly and Luke Kelly for this incredible day—one that none of us will forget anytime soon!