On August 26, 2022, the Acton Fair sponsored the annual milking contest between the York County Republicans and the Democrats. At about 4 PM, two cows entered a covered arena with open sides and sawdust floor. Fair goers surrounded the event to cheer on their favored party. Both the Democrats and the Republicans fielded teams of 6 people. Each person would milk a cow for 2 minutes each aiming the teats into a milk bottle. After twelve minutes the team with the most milk would be declared the winner by the Acton Fair.
The Republicans selected Rev. David Corbett, the next Maine Senator for Senate District 32, as their team captain. Other team members included the next Representative for the United States Congress for District 1, Ed Thelander; our most faithful, hard-working Secretary for the York County Republicans, Susan Wiswell; a most zealous and determined woman to assist all Republican candidates, Crystal Martell; a lady volunteer from the audience and professional milker, determined to make sure the Republicans win, named Jen; and Mr. David Boothby, a Republican farmer and expert milker from Saco, Maine. Mrs. David (Sylvia) Corbett, a loyal lifelong supporter of the GOP, was chosen as an alternate.
At the command of “go”, David Boothby was first on his knee with a bottle in one hand and a teat in the other, to start the contest for the Republicans. Edward Thelander followed successfully. Third was Susan Wiswell and the bottle began to fill, putting the Republicans in the lead! Jen then placed her knee on the ground and continued the race toward the finish. Crystal Martell approached the “Republican” cow and decided to milk from the opposite side and did her job well for a first-time “milker”. Last of all, David Corbett quickly placed his right knee on the ground and with the bottle in his left hand and a teat in his right, he began. Milk descended upon the sawdust floor, onto his hand, and into the bottle.
The crowd echoed the final countdown and then a hush fell on the crowd as they and the contestants held their breaths, awaiting the final outcome. The Republicans had won!
The team Captain for the Republicans, David Corbett, was then issued red beads, the color representing the Republican Party, from the Acton Fair Committee. He then placed them around the neck of the losing Democratic Milking Team Captain, who promised to wear them the rest of the night. The sound of good-natured applause from the crowd and team members of both sides erupted. The Republicans and Democrats shook hands as the competition drew to a close.
However, before the contestants cleared the arena, there was another step to be taken. A Democrat, Sheriff William King, had previously approached David Corbett with an idea of having a “traveling trophy”. The idea was “music to his ears” and David Corbett made a trophy. He pulled the trophy from his bag and showed it to all. With great applause and a blue first-place ribbon from the Acton Fair Committee, the Republican chairman took the trophy back to the Republican booth to be displayed. This trophy will be presented to the Republicans at their monthly meeting in September. The trophy will remain in Republican hands until the Action Fair of August 2023, when the Republicans will have to defend it against the Democrats for possession of the trophy for another year.
Rev. David Corbett
Maine Senate Candidate
District 32 (Biddeford, Arundel, Dayton, Lyman, Hollis)