The Farm Dog of the Year contest application period is open for nominations from farmers and ranchers. Terri Moore, American Farm Bureau Federation Vice President of Communications, said the contest helps bring awareness to agriculture.
?The Farm Dog of the Year contest has been one of the really fun programs that American Farm Bureau has sponsored, and a great way to connect with the public,? Moore said. ?They love their pets, so they love seeing how pets interact on farms and it gives them a little window into agriculture. The 2023 contests inspired nearly 10,000 engagements with a reach of almost 150,000 people. So, it really does have an impact.?
Farm dogs aren?t just pets, though. Moore said four-legged farmhands are also part of the family.
?There is no question that the bond between farm dogs and their owners is incredibly tight,? Moore said. ?In fact, if you haven’t seen the video of our 2023 winner, Tough, I would encourage you to go to fb.org, because it’ll make you cry. Tough was clearly part of the family and cared for deeply, and that’s been true of all of our farm dog winners. And that’s part of what makes the contest really fun.?
Moore said the winner will receive a cash prize and a year of free dog food.
?This year’s contest is supported by Nestle Purina Petcare again and we’re very grateful to them for their support,? Moore said. ?$5,000 in prize money will go to the winner along with a year’s worth of Purina dog food. There will be up to three regional runners up, they’ll each give $1,000 in prize money, and of course, we’ll run our People’s Choice Pup online digital competition where everybody will be able to engage and vote for their favorite pet.?
Applications for the 2024 contest close July 14. Learn more and nominate your dog online at fb.org/farmdog.
