Farmers are able to submit nominations for the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the seventh year of the contest, supported by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers.
The grand prize winner — Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year — will win a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money. The winner will be recognized at a Farm Dog of the Year award ceremony at the American Farm Bureau Convention in San Antonio, in January 2025.
The 2025 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a professionally produced video. Since its inception, the contest has provided a link to the farm for pet-loving Americans who vote for their favorite farm dog online.
“Farm dogs play an important on the farm, coming alongside farmers to pitch in and to keep us company in our work,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We’re pleased to continue this popular contest, which offers a glimpse into daily life on the farm or ranch for people who may not have the opportunity to experience it for themselves.”
Rounding up livestock, chasing off predators, opening gates, fetching or carrying tools/buckets, and greeting visitors are among the many tasks performed by farm dogs.
Scientific research insights from a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Purina reveal that interacting with pets can provide health benefits. For example, after spending just 20 minutes with a dog, people experienced a significant increase in levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a role in moderating stress. This was also associated with a decrease in heart rate and an increase in a self-reported sense of well-being. Following the interaction with the dog, people were in a more positive emotional state.
“Farm dogs play an important role on a family farm, from helping to herd livestock or birder, to providing companionship in the field and at home. We are proud to support and celebrate hard-working and loving farm dogs through the American Farm Bureaus’ Farm Dog of the Year contest,” said Jack Scott, vice president, sustainable sourcing at Purina. “Purina sources nutritious ingredients from American farms to make our pet food, and we support the hard work and dedication of American farmers feeding generations of people and pets.”
Desired attributes for the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness, and obedience.
Farm dog owners must be Farm Bureau members to enter their dogs in the competition.
Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available here. Farm Dog of the Year nominations, which include written responses to questions, at least one still photo and a video clip (optional), must be received by July 12, 2024, for consideration. The American Farm Bureau Federation sponsors the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest.
More than 110,000 votes were cast online last year for the People’s Choice Pup, a popular social media element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition, which returns for 2025. Profiles of several dogs nominated for the contest will be shared beginning in October, with the public invited to vote. Bragging rights and a $2,500 cash prize from Purina will be awarded to the People’s Choice Pup.
»Related: Farm Bureau names 2024 Farm Dog of the Year: Skippy