Farmers and ranchers are invited to submit nominations for the 2021 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, with support from Purina. This is the third year of the contest, which celebrates farm dogs that work alongside farmers and ranchers to produce nutritious food for families and their pets across America.
The grand prize winner—Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year—will win a year’s worth of Purina 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 Federation Convention in January. Up to four regional runners-up* will win $1,000 each in prize money.
“We’re pleased to continue this award, which provides a great point of connection for the general public to get a glimpse into farm life,” American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall said. “It’s especially appropriate after a year of unprecedented challenges in agriculture to recognize the dual role farm dogs often play as both working dogs and companions to farm families.”
According to scientific research insights provided by Purina, living with pets can provide marked health benefits. For example, spending just 30 minutes with a dog has been proven to boost human levels of oxytocin, which has been found to reduce stress, fight depression and create feelings of trust.
“Even in these uncertain times, farm and ranch work doesn’t stop, and farmers count on farm dogs to be right there to face these challenges together,” Duvall said.
Desired attributes in the Farm Dog of the Year include helpfulness to the farmer and his/her family, playfulness and obedience. The 2021 Farm Dog of the Year will also be featured in a video. The profile of 2020 Farm Dog of the Year Flint can be viewed here.
“Purina is proud to support the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Farm Dog of the Year contest,” Jack Scott, vice president of sustainability at Purina, said. “We understand the positive impacts pets have on people’s lives as companions and contributors to farmers’ and ranchers’ operations. All of the fantastic submissions we receive truly help demonstrate that people and pets are better together, and we look forward to hearing and seeing many more stories in this year’s contest.”
Farm dog owners must be Farm Bureau members to enter their dogs in the competition.
Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can visit https://texasfarmbureau.org/membership to learn about becoming a member.
Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available at https://fb.org/2021farmdog. Farm Dog of the Year nominations, which include written responses to questions, still photos and a video clip (optional), must be received by Aug. 20, 2020, for consideration. The Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest is sponsored by AFBF.
People’s Choice Pup will return for the 2021 contest, with profiles of the top 10 dogs shared starting in October and the public is invited to vote. Bragging rights and a $50 cash prize will be awarded to the People’s Choice Pup.
For the purposes of this contest, the regions are as follows:
Midwest Region: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
Northeast Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia
Southern Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming