Former 'Survivor' contestant raises Texas Longhorn cattle as 'pasture ornaments'

Allegheny Township farmer Chet Welch received a gift on his 50th birthday that keeps on giving. “I got my dream farm,” said Welch, a former contestant on the CBS series “Survivor,” describing his beloved historic Tunnel Hill Farm in Allegheny Township he co-owns with Bob Cherry, his partner of 16 years. “It’s truly a dream come true.

” Now, Welch, 62, raises and sells Texas Longhorn cattle for breeding purposes, but primarily as “pasture ornaments” for people seeking a Western “wow” factor on the property. None are sold for processing or meat. Cherry said the 120-acre farm purchase happened organically.

He describes himself as the “Ava Gabor of Green Acres,” a nod to the very urban wife character played by Gabor in the late 1960s TV series. “We went to the farm auction to buy some of the contents. We didn’t go with the purpose of buying the farm,” said Cherry, who grew up in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood.

Welch gained fame and notoriety for starring in the inaugural season of “Survivor” in 2008 in Micronesia. At that time, Welch was a nationally recognized pageant coach living in Manor Township , Armstrong County . Shaking a large plastic container filled with horse treats inside the main pasture, his herd of 35 longhorns heard the noise and started toward him.

“Come on, cows,” Welch said. “Here they come.” Amid loud bellows of mooing, Welch hand-fed some of the herd, a mix of newly born calves and mature cattle.

“That’s ve.