Viewfinder: Funeral Home Owner Wins Cow Milking Contest

A crowd watched as six contestants tried their hands at cow milking as part of the Kimberton Fair’s Second Annual Celebrity Cow Milking Contest.

George Michael Gatcha, owner of Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home walked away the winner, milking a large black and white cow named “Raccoon.” Gatcha went home with a large milk jug bearing his name.

In terms of milk totals, Barto Pool and Spa co-owner Amy Barto came in second, but she was part of the first of two heats and went against Gatcha. Phoenixville Patch editor Lynn Jusinski made the final by winning the second heat, but was handily defeated by Gatcha.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman won last year, but organizers soon found out that he grew up on a dairy farm. Because of his expertise, Dinniman was a consultant for the cow milking contest in 2011, helping the contestants.

The evening started with a quick lesson and a meet-and-greet with the three cows involved in the competition. Then, two heats, each featuring three contestants, were held, followed by the final milk-off.

Contestants were judged on the amount of milk in their buckets. The final results of the competition are below.

Gatcha received the title of “2011 Expert Cowhand” in Thursday’s competition.

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to the Kimberton Fair Committee for letting me be part of this. I can now cross cow milking off of my bucket list!

Round #1
Amy Barto - 6 oz.
(Co-owner of Barto Pool and Spa)

George Michael Gatcha - 13.5 oz
(Owner of Devlin-Rosmos-Kepp Funeral Home)

Boots Hetherington - 3 oz.
(Special Adviser to the Governor on Fairs and Agriculture ... but he's a FRUIT farmer, so he wasn't a ringer in this contest!)

Round #2
Dr. Lou Beccaria - 2 oz.
President and CEO of Phoenixville Community Health Foundation 

Lynn Jusinski - 4 oz.
Editor of Phoenixville.Patch.com

Barry Taglieber - 3 oz.
Photographer, “The Phoenix” newspaper

Final "Milk-Off"
George Michael Gatcha - 13.5 oz. (same cow! Raccoon)
Lynn Jusinski - 3 oz.

WINNER FOR 2011 - GEORGE MICHAEL GATCHA