From Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory to the pastures of Lewis County

Long before he was saving cows in Lewis County, Peter Ostrum captured hearts around the world as Charlie Bucket in the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Discovered at age 12 in Cleveland, Pete’s childhood trip to a magical chocolate factory was just the beginning of an extraordinary journey.

Despite the fame and even being offered a three-picture contract, young Pete chose to step away from acting and found a much different calling. Inspired by the vet who treated his family’s horse, he decided on a life dedicated to animals and, after trading in his Golden Ticket for a vet school acceptance letter, graduated with his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in 1984.

Eventually settling in Lowville, Pete began a distinguished veterinary career at Countryside Veterinary Clinic and Dairy Health & Management Services, and married his wife Loretta, with the couple later welcoming two children as they continued to build their lives in Lewis County.

According to a piece by Jessie Baker for NPR, it took Pete years after moving to Lowville before he told anybody there about his one-time stardom; even his wife didn’t know about his role until he warned her about it just before she met his mother. He used to tell those who recognized him as Charlie that it was actually his brother who had acted in the iconic film and not him.

Ask around Lewis County, and you’ll hear stories of Pete’s veterinary heroics. Fellow Cow Kisser Dan O’Brien recalls the time Pete showed up to treat what seemed like a lifeless cow, only for her to be up and back in the barnyard 20 minutes later, producing milk like a champ. And when disaster struck and a barn collapsed, Pete didn’t hesitate to crawl underneath the wreckage to make sure every animal was cared for.

Whether you remember him from the big screen or the barn aisle, one thing’s for sure: Pete Ostrum has always had a heart full of compassion and community spirit. Retiring from Countryside Veterinary Clinic in 2023, Pete continues to work with Dairy Health & Management Services, volunteers with Lewis County Search and Rescue and serves as a board member for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County.

Now, he’ll need your votes to score the real Golden Ticket: the honor of kissing a cow at the Lewis County Fair. Check out Pete's competition here!