Madera County farm dog wins Farm Bureau contest

By Caitlin Fillmore

While humans continue their dogged pursuit of work-life balance, this year’s Farm Dog of the Year winners show how it’s done. The winners’ devotion to their farms and families is effortless and inspiring.

The California Farm Bureau’s fourth annual farm dog contest celebrates the best of both sides of a farm dog. With support from Nationwide and FieldClock, the contest asked Farm Bureau members to submit photos and a brief story about their beloved family member. The Grand Prize winner earned $1,000, with First Runner-up receiving $500, Second Runner-up, $250 and Third Runner-up, $100.

This year’s winners are as diligent as they are delightful, including Grand Prize winner Aussie, a hardworking pooch in Madera County who never misses a step.

When Kaydence Erickson, 15, was 6 years old and her youngest sibling was 1, Aussie joined the family. The Australian shepherd puppy lived on the family’s Madera ranch, part of their 2,500 acres of almond, grape, pistachio and prune croplands.

“Aussie is our family’s special dog,” Kaydence said. “There has been no other dog like her that we have ever owned.”

For the first several years of the working dog’s life, her job was to watch over the Erickson family.

“I had an Australian shepherd growing up,” said Kaydence’s dad, Jason. “As my kids grew up, I wanted them to have a dog that is protective.”

As the youngest Erickson transitioned to school, Aussie shifted too. Instead of childcare duties, the shepherd embraced her farm dog role.

“Australians like having something to do,” Jason said. “Once she didn’t have the kids to pal around with, she started going to work with me a lot more.”

Aussie’s day shift involves a ride in the truck to check fields, employees and equipment, always mentoring the younger puppy on the farm. The 9-year-old catches gophers in the orchards and vineyards and helps herd horses. But her true calling shines during the night shift.

“She has made it a daily routine to bed down near the chickens, listening and waiting for predators that are looking for dinner,” Kaydence said.

Three years ago, Kaydence’s fledgling chicken breeding and egg business was just getting started when coyotes nearly wiped everything out.

“After that, we decided to build her a house with a heat lamp so she can stay out there all night long,” Kaydence said. “Since then, we’ve had no issues at all.”

The Erickson ranch houses several different types of livestock, including pigs, horses, goats and chickens. Aussie is a tireless protector of them all.

“Nothing can come between her and our livestock,” Kaydence said. “She is wholeheartedly devoted to protecting the farm, and nothing stops her.”

With Aussie’s help, Kaydence’s business is flourishing. The teen farm-trepreneur has expanded to 70 chickens and hopes to develop a chicken hatchery.

“She’s only getting better as a farm dog as my business grows,” Kaydence said. “Without her, I would have lost everything.”

Aussie’s enthusiastic devotion has come with challenges. When she was 6, 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 came out of the surgery, she immediately sprang up and ran out the door to check on the livestock. She recovered quickly, and even with three legs, she lets nothing stop her,” Kaydence said. “What other dog would run miles on a broken leg to protect what belongs to her owner?”

The Australian shepherd returned to her nightly security responsibilities and continued her undefeated streak.

“At night, we are reassured that she will work the night shift and all livestock will be alive and well in the morning with her watching over them, no matter how hard the job,” Kaydence said.

While Aussie admittedly needs a helping paw to jump into the truck, she continues to support her family, fulfilling all her farm dog duties. Both Kaydence and Jason said Aussie’s adaptability doesn’t faze them.

“I’m not surprised. She has always been there for me, and she loves living on the farm. Her love for it is evident in her work,” Kaydence said. “Three legs never stopped her. It made her better than ever.”

But it’s not all work and no play for Aussie. The hardworking dog has a joyful personality to match her serious work ethic.

“When it’s feeding time, she will howl at you to get your attention,” Jason said. “And when you pet her, she will paw at you, so you don’t stop. She has a personality I have never seen in a dog.”

Aussie stops to celebrate life’s accomplishments, even while working hard.

“When she caught her first squirrel a while ago, she marched around showing us as if she knew that she had done a good job,” Kaydence said.

As the hubbub surrounding her Grand Prize win continued to swirl, Aussie soaked up the moment and a lot of treats during her photo shoot. Kaydence always knew Aussie made a great candidate for Farm Dog of the Year, submitting Aussie to the contest for the past three years.

“She definitely deserves it,” Kaydence said. “She is one of the best dogs you can get.”

Speaking of the contest’s first runner-up, Daisy, owner Derrick Lum, a Solano County Farm Bureau member from Fairfield, praised the Labrador retriever as an essential part of the farm.

“Daisy’s love, loyalty and protective instincts make her an indispensable part of our farm and family life,” Lum said.

Daisy works hard on her third-generation family farm in Suisun Valley, checking irrigation lines, chasing away rabbits that threaten crops and warning against coyotes or intruders. She even taught herself to open doors for fellow workers carrying tools.

But she works even harder to comfort and bring joy to her family of six. Lum said Daisy has an intuitive nature, going beyond companionship to provide a sense of safety and peace of mind for everyone in the family.

Neighbors in the Suisun Valley even know sweet 3-year-old Daisy as a therapy dog. According to Lum, Daisy “embodies more than just the working aspect of being a farm dog, but also the family side.”

San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau member Lynette Sonne, owner of second runner-up RYE, said her dog herds livestock and chickens.

When being around this 10-year-old border collie-McNab cross, it feels like family. According to owner Sonne, RYE is “welcome in every dog-friendly establishment in town and is my drinking buddy at the local distilleries.”

This “real good truck dog” sharpens her herding instincts with the cattle, sheep and chickens on her Paso Robles ranch. The hardworking dog is also entrusted with guarding the land and keeping everyone honest.

“RYE knows how to keep a schedule and lets us all know when we’re dragging behind,” Sonne said.

When not hard at work, RYE puts a smile on her owner’s face while herding her favorite thing—a Frisbee—and serves as an eager welcome wagon for visitors and dogs alike. Sonne said RYE is her Farm Dog of the Year every year “because she represents companionship and responsibility and is all heart.”

Yolo County Farm Bureau member Justin Rominger of Winters owns third runner-up, Levi, a Labrador retriever who lets his personality shine through at the farm and always keeps his family guessing during long, happy days at the ranch.

“His personality quirks keep us laughing, and he is constantly finding new ways to cause trouble,” Rominger said. “He makes work and life fun.”

Levi pitches in on the farm by going on tractor rides and sleeping in the shade before playing fetch in the nearby ponds. While perhaps a less diligent employee than others on this list, Rominger said his dog’s joy does a lot of heavy lifting during the workday.

“Farming isn’t easy, and although he rarely offers any real ‘help,’ he makes day-to-day life fun,” Rominger said. “Levi wants to be involved in all farm activities and is especially happy when someone passes by and gives him a treat.”

(Caitlin Fillmore is a reporter based in Monterey County. She may be contacted at cslhfillmore@gmail.com.)