LOWVILLE, NY — United Way of Northern New York’s third annual Cow Kissing for ALICE fundraiser brought in $11,779 for Lewis County households that are employed but still facing financial strain. The event wrapped up Saturday, July 25, during the Lewis County Fair, with participants competing for the chance to take part in the signature cow kiss.
The money will support ALICE families, a term the organization uses for people who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed. United Way said last year’s event helped provide assistance to 34 Lewis County families, giving this year’s effort a clear local purpose beyond the fairground novelty.
How The Event Worked
Mike Jackson of Viking Cives in Harrisville raised the most money, collecting $3,055 to earn the top fundraising honor and the cow kiss itself. The featured animal was Envy, a 1½-year-old Holstein owned by Sam VanBuren of Rossdale Farms, who handled the cow during the fundraiser.
The event also included a People’s Choice Award for children, who voted with free tokens. Tonya O’Brien of O’Brien Family Dairy won that recognition with 183 votes. Rachel Lisk and Tony Levesque finished as runners-up and also took part in the tradition, along with Lee Hinkleman and Tom Spaulding.
The fundraiser was part of the Lewis County Fair, so fairgoers could watch the proceedings as they happened. The source does not list a separate ticket price, registration process or eligibility rule for participants, beyond the fundraising competition itself.
Why The Money Matters
The fundraiser is aimed at families who work but still struggle to cover basic expenses, a reality United Way describes through its ALICE framework. Those households may not qualify as traditionally low income, yet they can still be squeezed by rent, food, transportation and other daily costs.
That is why the total matters locally. United Way said the proceeds from this year’s event will continue helping ALICE families throughout Lewis County. The organization also pointed to the community response as proof that a lighthearted event can still fill a serious need when the money stays close to home.
Unlike a one-time prize or publicity stunt, the cow-kissing fundraiser is tied to ongoing support. The group said last year’s proceeds already reached 34 families, showing that even a modest county fair effort can turn into practical aid for neighbors who need it.
Ways To Get Involved
United Way of Northern New York thanked the people and businesses that helped make the fundraiser work, including presenting sponsor O’Brien Family Dairy, AmeriCU, Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Tom Spaulding State Farm, LinkingLewisCounty.com and the Lewis County Fair. The source does not provide a general public donation link or contact method, so anyone interested in supporting future efforts should confirm details directly with United Way before giving or traveling.
For readers in other communities, the model is simple: pair a familiar local event with a clear charitable purpose, add a friendly competition, and keep the beneficiary group easy to understand. A fair, farm, sponsor base and named local families all helped make this event legible to the public without much explanation.
What It Means Locally
Events like this tend to work because they are easy for neighbors to understand and easy to support. A county fair crowd can see exactly where the money is going, and a small number of local sponsors can make a visible difference without a large formal campaign.
For Lewis County, the fundraiser offered more than a novelty moment with a Holstein named Envy. It gave United Way a public way to remind residents that employed families can still need help, and it turned that message into cash that will stay in the area.
Other towns looking to copy the idea could start with one simple, memorable activity and a local cause that people already recognize. The clearest lesson is to keep the setup transparent, name the beneficiary plainly and choose partners who can explain where the money will go.
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