Skippy, a 4-year-old mixed breed owned by Georgia Farm Bureau members Donald and Laura Adams, has been named the winner of the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award.
Meet Skippy and three others Nestlé Purina PetCare and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) during the AFBF annual convention.
“It’s a pleasure to partner with Purina for the sixth annual Farm Dog of the Year contest, giving the public a glimpse into everyday farm life,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Although farmers and ranchers love what they do, it is well known that farming is stressful. Farm dogs can help ease the burden, as they often play dual roles as both working dogs and companions for farm families.”
Herding livestock and chasing predators are among the many tasks farm dogs perform. The contest celebrates farm dogs who work alongside farmers and ranchers as they continue to produce healthy food for families and their pets across America.
Skippy, the grand prize winner of the 2024 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year award, is a 4-year-old mixed breed with Border Collie, Australian Shepherd and Catahoula hound in his lineage. He had been with the Adams for over two years. Working the livestock – helping to move the cattle where they need to go – is Skippy’s main duty on the farm.
“Skippy’s a partner, he’s a pet and he helps us with the cows every day,” Donald said. That help was needed after he was injured on the field in 2019 – paralyzed from the neck down – and faced a long road to recovery. “The ability to take care of cows and have something for me to live for every day … he contributed to that very much,” he said.
Laura Adams sheds more lights on farmer-farm dog connection and what having Skippy means to them: “Skippy and Donald had an instant bond from day one. Getting a farm dog changed our lives.” They received Skippy from PHARM Dog USA, which supports farmers and farm family members with physical, cognitive or disease disabilities.
Purina again donated prizes for this year’s contest. It includes $5,000 in prize money, a trophy plate, a year’s supply of Pro-Plan dog food and other Purina products for Skippy. The company has been helping dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives through science-based nutritional innovations for more than 90 years.
“Purina is proud to support the sixth annual Farm Dog of the Year competition with the American Farm Bureau, and we congratulate this year’s winner, Skippy,” said Jack Scott, vice president of sustainable sourcing at Nestlé Purina PetCare. “We believe that people and pets are better together, and Skippy’s role on the farm along with his bond with Donald perfectly exemplifies what this contest is all about.”
Three regional runner-ups in the contest will each receive a $1,000 cash prize, a trophy plate and Purina products. They are:
- Cinco, owned by Caleb and Samantha Smith
- Meg, owned by Michelle Wilfong, member of West Virginia
- Fancy, owned by Miles Bailey, Missouri member
A panel of judges with expertise in the animal husbandry industry, veterinary medicine and communications reviewed more than 100 nominations to select the 2024 Farm Dog of the Year. Judging criteria include the dog’s helpfulness to the farmer and his family, playfulness and their role in improving life on and off the farm. Farm Bureau members submit written responses to questions, photos and video clips to nominate their dogs for Farm Dog of the Year.
People’s Choice Pup
More than 100,000 people voted online in the People’s Choice Pup portion of the competition. Casper, owned by Georgia Farm Bureau member John Wierwille, was named the People’s Choice Pup.
Casper received a trophy plate and Purina products. A $1,000 cash prize will be donated directly to the Atlanta-based LifeLine Animal Project at Wierwille’s request. LifeLine took Casper into care after he was injured by coyotes while protecting his flock of sheep.
Four other dogs were contenders for People’s Choice Pup: runner-up Cinco, owned by Utah members Caleb and Samantha Smith; Trip, owned by Ohio member Loralynn Kadell; Margo, owned by Indiana member Rachel Hyde; and Morgan, owned by Idaho member Megan Stark.
