Farmers are invited 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 will be awarded a year’s worth of Purina Pro Plan dog food and $5,000 in prize money.

In addition, 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, and it will 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.

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. 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 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest is sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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.

Eligibility guidelines and submission requirements are available at www.fb.org/initiative/farm-dog-of-the-year, where you can also view the profile of Skippy, the 2024 Farm Dog of the Year.