Ranch guardian wins California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year
Aussie, a 9-year-old Australian shepherd who guards her family’s Madera ranch animals from predators, has earned the $1,000 Grand Prize in the fourth annual California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest.
The award was announced today during the 106th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Monterey.
Open to Farm Bureau members, with support from Nationwide and FieldClock, the contest asked entrants to submit photos and answer a few brief questions about their dog.
The Erickson family raises livestock and grows 2,500 acres of almonds, grapes, pistachios and prunes in Madera. Aussie catches gophers in the orchards and vineyards, helps herd horses and protects pigs, horses, goats and chickens from nighttime predators. “Nothing can come between her and our livestock,” her owner, Kaydence Erickson, said. “She is wholeheartedly devoted to protecting the farm, and nothing stops her.” Aussie’s enthusiastic devotion has come with challenges. When she was 6 years old, Aussie broke her rear right leg while chasing a dog off her property. The Ericksons made the tough choice to amputate her limb. But any concerns about Aussie’s post-surgery quality of life quickly disappeared when she eagerly got right back to work after surgery.
Aussie is not only a hard worker but brings joy to the Ericksons with her playful, affectionate personality.
“She definitely deserves it,” Erickson said of Aussie’s winning the Farm Dog of the Year title. “She is one of the best dogs you can get.”
The first runner-up honor, and a $500 prize, went to Daisy, a Labrador retriever owned by Derrick Lum of Solano County. At the family’s Suisun Valley farm, Daisy checks irrigation lines, chases away rabbits and warns against predators and intruders.
Second runner-up, and $250, was awarded to RYE, owned by Lynette Sonne of San Luis Obispo County. The border collie-McNab cross guards the land on a Paso Robles ranch with cattle, sheep and chickens.
Third runner-up, and $100, went to Levi, a Labrador retriever who keeps everyone on his Yolo County ranch laughing and “makes work and life fun,” said his owner, Justin Rominger of Winters. The California Farm Bureau works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 26,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of 5.8 million Farm Bureau members. ###
The Erickson family of Madera poses with their Australian shepherd Aussie, the California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year. The Ericksons, from left, are Kaydence, Henry, Stacy, James and Jason. Photo credit: California Farm Bureau by Tomas Ovalle
Aussie, a 9-year-old Australian shepherd, won the $1,000 Grand Prize in the fourth annual California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest. Photo credit: California Farm Bureau by Tomas Ovalle
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