Goat Herder is California Farm Bureau Farm Dog Winner
Rip, a 2-year-old border collie who herds goats on a Bakersfield ranch, has earned the $1,000 Grand Prize in the third annual California Farm Bureau Farm Dog Contest. The award was announced today during the 104th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting.
Open to Farm Bureau members, with support from Nationwide, the Farm Dog Contest asked entrants to submit photos and answer a few brief questions about their dog.
Romi Poncetta runs Maggenti Show Goats, raising Boer goats to sell to 4-H and FFA youths across the country, who will then prepare them for livestock shows.
Rip helps Poncetta every day in moving the goats from the pasture into pens, where the goats can get any needed hands-on care and pose for pictures used for marketing. Through it all, “he’s right there with me and he keeps bringing the next goat in.”
But Rip is much more than just a working dog. “Rip is truly a blessing and a one-of-a-kind dog I wish everyone could have,” Poncetta said. “He is one of the best things that has happened to myself and my family.”
The First Runner-up honor, and a $500 prize, went to Alba, a Lagotto Romagnolo, who finds and digs up truffles at Sky Saddle Orchards in Santa Rosa, owned by Karen Passafaro. In her spare time, Alba serves as a therapy dog for assisted-living homes.
Second Runner-up, and $250, was awarded to Ray, an Australian shepherd who serves as a watch dog and cow herder on Elkhorn Ranch, a cow-calf operation in north Monterey County. Ray also has been a cherished companion to ranch owner Robert Stephens, who was recently widowed.
Third Runner-up, and $100, went to border collie Dot, who started as a star pupil at the Border Collie Training Center in Modoc County. She helps owner Geri Byrne herd about 250 sheep that Byrne uses to train the dogs.
The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 29,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.3 million Farm Bureau members.
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