The People’s Choice Pup is a popular social media element of the Farm Dog of the Year competition. Check out the profiles of our three nominees and vote here. The People’s Choice Pup wins barking, er, bragging rights along with a $2,500 cash prize and a year’s supply of dog food from contest supporter Nestlé Purina PetCare. Cast your vote for your top pup by Nov 28.

Bubbles
5-year-old Border Collie
Montana

Like many farmers, Bubbles, a 5-year-old Border Collie, does a little bit everything year-round on her Montana farm. Her main job, herding, involves bringing the sheep in from the pasture each evening and getting her farmer Elena Hovland-Stuker’s poultry flocks into their shelters at night. Bubbles’ work with the sheep also includes herding them for veterinary work and moving them between pastures and pens. And she pitches in to help the guardian dogs keep the livestock safe from rattlesnakes, grizzly bears and coyotes.

In addition, she helps Elena each summer with the water irrigation dams, holding them down while Elena sets them in the ditches.

Bubbles’ responses to Elena’s commands and her intuitiveness with the animals serve the farm well. During lambing season, Bubbles is on high alert, waking Elena if she oversleeps between late-night checks on ewes about to give birth or senses something is wrong.

A nurturer, Bubbles greets each lamb born on the farm to bond with them and helps the ewes clean the lambs. She also helps Elena raise orphaned kittens, cleaning them after they’ve been fed, playing with them and cuddling them while they sleep.

Bubbles isn’t only intuitive with the animals. Since Elena lost her husband three years ago, Bubbles has been a constant by Elena’s side, providing comfort when she senses Elena’s having a tough day. While Elena can’t imagine running the farm without Bubbles’ help, she also very much values Bubbles’ companionship.

Bubbles’ work doesn’t end at the farm gate. She is the official greeter at the greenhouse where Elena works in the spring and summer. And at the Montana State Fair, where Elena is the superintendent of farm crops and gardening, Bubbles is the Agricultural Education Center’s real-life example of the versatility of livestock working dogs.

You can vote here for Bubbles.

Goose
Red Heeler
Kentucky

Goose, a 12-year-old Red Heeler, took quickly to farm work as puppy, following every row as his farmer, Lindie Huffman, set tobacco and helped bring cattle in from the field. He shadowed Lindie in the greenhouse, claimed the passenger seat during hay harvest and greeted every visitor like family.

In 2021, Goose’s family made the difficult decision to remove both his eyes after he went blind from glaucoma. His family hoped for the best of course, but they were amazed at how his resilience carried him through his recovery. Though he can’t round up the cattle or fetch Lindie’s tools anymore, Goose is still a critical part of farm life, using instinct and memory to guide him. Goose enjoys slow strolls to the red barn and is the farm’s most dependable greeter and morale booster. On those tough days on the farm, which sometimes stretch into tough seasons, Goose is a reminder of the power of resilience, adaptability and gratitude. Watching him overcome blindness with grace and grit gives Lindie strength to overcome her own challenges.

Off the farm, Goose makes just as strong an impression. At the farmers market he is beloved for his calmness and friendly demeanor and he’s a crowd favorite at events like Barket at Market. He’s been Lindie’s constant companion since she began her career as a county Extension agent.

Goose thrives on routine and is as eager to share every moment with Lindie as he was when he was a puppy, providing an unconditional love and loyalty that has led Lindie to call him “the heart of the farm.”

You can vote here for Goose.

Ruby Hope
3-year-old red fox Lab
Indiana

At the top of the long list of Ruby Hope’s attributes are steadfast and uplifting. As a certified service dog, red fox Lab Ruby Hope is Travis Burkhart’s constant companion. After Travis was seriously injured in a car accident in 2008, his black Lab, Molly Grace, was a source of happiness through his long recovery, making Molly Grace’s death in 2022 devastating to him and his family.

Ruby Hope was a gift – in more ways than one – from a Minnesota farmer who heard about Travis’ story. Described as “pure joy on four paws” by her family, Ruby Hope bonded with Travis instantly. Not only is Ruby a registered service dog, she knows a fair share of impressive dog tricks; but as smart as she is, it’s her heart that wins everyone over.

Travis and Ruby Hope’s life on the farm was transformed in February when a group of farmers from across the U.S. gifted Travis a track wheelchair, allowing the two to venture across the farm freely. Now, Travis can reconnect with the memories of work he loved – driving a tractor during harvest, stacking straw and pulling weeds from the soybeans – and introduce Ruby Hope to the sights, sounds and smells of farm life.

Ruby Hope takes her job as Travis’ service dog very seriously, staying faithfully by his side, guiding him on the farm and helping with the daily tasks they share. Twice weekly, she accompanies Travis to his workouts, providing both motivation and comfort.

As impactful as Ruby Hope’s physical presence and training have been in Travis’ life, at times the reason to smile and companionship she provides is even more important.

You can vote here for Ruby Hope.

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A new grant from the Native American Agriculture Fund will allow the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture to develop a new Purple Plow Challenge focused on Native American student interests such as resilience and food security.

As with all Purple Plow Challenges, the Native American-focused challenge will provide authentic, hands-on learning opportunities that connect science, technology and agriculture. Through this project, students will research a real agricultural issue, design and test a solution, and present their finding, helping to build critical skills in leadership, problem-solving and financial literacy. The project will include educator training, resource development and broad outreach to Native American schools, after-school programs, 4-H clubs and other community groups.

“The goal with this upcoming Challenge is to inspire young Native American learners to engage with agriculture in ways that are both relevant and academically rigorous,” explained Julia Recko, managing director of the Foundation. “The challenge and the resources tied to it will strengthen Native American students’ connection to food systems and open pathways to future careers in agriculture and STEM.”

The first year of the grant includes searching for educators in the Native American community who would be willing to help the Foundation determine what topic would be the most interesting to their students and then creating the challenge. (Fill out this link if you’d like to be involved.) In the second year, the challenge will be launched and completed with the selection of a winner.

About the Purple Plow Challenge

The Purple Plow Challenge is a special project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture (AFBFA) and made possible through generous support of title sponsor Corteva Agriscience. AFBFA created the Purple Plow Challenge to engage young people – and their teachers – in the multifaceted world of agriculture.

“We believe when teachers and students understand the science and technology involved in food and fiber production and enjoy learning about it, we may get more young people to pursue agriculture-related STEM careers,” said Recko. “We’ll also have more people informed about one of the most important industries for a sustainable society.”

The Purple Plow Challenge brand encompasses both the history and future of agriculture; the plow symbolizes the history of production agriculture, while purple represents the innovative and exciting ways that farmers, ranchers and many others involved in agriculture work to solve challenges today.

The Purple Plow Challenge site encourages students to research scenarios and build prototypes to solve problems related to food, hunger and sustainability. Individuals, groups and classes in grades five through 12 are eligible to enter the competition.

The current challenge, which is open through Dec. 2, asks students to design better irrigation systems to use water even more wisely, with a focus on how gravity affects water flow.

All of the challenges incorporate several Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core standards and come with numerous resources for teachers and participants.

About the Native American Agriculture Fund

The Native American Agriculture Fund is a private, charitable trust that envisions a future where Native farmers and ranchers thrive and play a crucial role in land stewardship and the nation’s economic viability. Their mission is to empower Native and rural communities with the knowledge, resources and support to foster robust agricultural practices, resilience and economic self-sufficiency. They believe that by investing in Native agriculture, they can strengthen rural America’s infrastructure development and job creation, benefiting everyone.

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Being the smallest state has some advantages. For one, traveling the state to visit the 30 farms participating in Rhode Island Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farm Scavenger Hunt was doable for many residents, especially over the nearly eight months the hunt was held.

The scavenger hunt was launched by the Rhode Island Fruit Growers in 2011. When they handed it over to Rhode Island Farm Bureau in 2022, many aspects of the event needed to be tweaked, if not overhauled.

In 2024, the 30 participating farms were located in various areas of the state and represented the different types of farms – from dairies and vineyards to berries and sweet corn – found in one of the most urban states in the country. USDA’s 2022 Census of Agriculture shows over 1,000 farms in the Ocean State, with the scavenger hunt reflecting a select few.

Farms pay to participate, with the money going toward printing tens of thousands of scavenger hunt fliers and funding a $250 prize package for a single winner among those who completed a flyer. Participating farms also agree to redeem up to $50 in $5 gift certificates for those returning completed or nearly completed flyers.

People who visited 20 of the participating farms received two $5 gift certificates, while those who visited all 30 received four $5 gift certificates. The farm-specific gift certificates are valid at farms participating in the submitted year’s scavenger hunt, so those participating in the May 1-Dec. 31, 2024, scavenger hunt received their gift certificates just before the hunt started this year.

Visitors on the hunt get a trifold map of all the participating  locations. Once on the farm, they get a stamp or unique hole punch to officially mark their visit. Even better, they may be enticed to buy some of the farm’s offerings. The maps are available at all the participating farms, which are listed on Rhode Island Farm Bureau’s website, and many grocery stores, libraries, activity centers and other
locations.

While logistics and funding limit the number of participating farms to 30, Rhode Farm Bureau intends to continually grow the number of locations at which visitors can pick up a scavenger hunt flyer and play along – and learn a little bit more about Rhode Island agriculture and Farm Bureau.

“The cards and photos some participants include with their returned fliers have been so rewarding to receive, with many participating for a decade,” said Heidi Quinn, Rhode Island Farm Bureau executive director. “Some even stop by the office to drop them off and share highlights of the hunt.”

One participant’s local magazine article about the Farm Scavenger Hunt prompted U.S. Sen. Jack Reed’s staff to partner with Rhode Island Farm Bureau for a joint tour of several of the participating farms, promoting the scavenger hunt and Reed’s EAT Local Foods Act.

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To engage with younger audiences about the world of agriculture and get members involved in promoting agriculture in a fun, interactive way, Idaho Farm Bureau started their Moving Ag to the Classroom (MAC) Trailer program.

The program started with a single trailer and two modules but has now expanded to three trailers and four modules. Each of the modules is also paired with a specific “Big Book,” teaching school-aged children about different agricultural commodities.

The original goal set by Idaho Farm Bureau was to schedule the trailer to visit 20-30 schools every year. However, this goal has been far exceeded, with the MAC trailers visiting over 75 schools every year and presenting to over 11,000 students. Additionally, the trailers now visit 12 county fairs and the state fair to reach another 25,000-plus children.

The program has also proven to be a great retention tool for students who go on to be involved in agriculture. Many students who experienced the trailer when they were younger come back to teach one of the modules when they are older.

Idaho Farm Bureau, teachers and students alike have been pleased with how the program has evolved through the years. This has also provided a great way for Farm Bureau members to have a meaningful experience in their local communities.

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To forge stronger connections with youth in agriculture, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation started the Classic Livestock Show. First held in 2022 as a part of Mississippi Farm Bureau’s 100-year celebration, the event quickly became a “classic.”

The event has everything you’d expect in a top-tier livestock show, like beef cattle, market hogs, sheep and goats, but raises the bar, with pelleted shavings in the swine division, online registration, a digital leaderboard display and a livestream of events, for example. And the substantial cash prizes and high-quality awards like banners and buckles draw a significant number of participants.

Mississippi Farm Bureau is optimistic the opportunity they provide youth to showcase their skills will create a generation of young adults with an affinity for Farm Bureau and interest in continuing their involvement in the organization.

Last year, more than 2,500 people attended the Classic Livestock Show. There were 1,135 total livestock show entries and nearly $65,000 was awarded in cash and other prizes.

The 2025 Mississippi Farm Bureau Classic Livestock Show will be held Nov. 21-23. A new addition this year, four $1,000 college scholarships will be awarded. All youth livestock show competitors will be entered into a pool with four names being chosen.

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Launched by Kansas Farm Bureau member Rick McNary as a Facebook page during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shop Kansas Farms continues to grow, with a goal now of developing regional food systems.

Shop Kansas Farms

McNary started Shop Kansas Farms in 2020 to help farmers who had lost their traditional markets due to COVID-19-related school, university, restaurant and hotel closures. He was also looking to provide a farm-to-fork connection for consumers hungry for local farm products, especially in areas where shoppers faced empty grocery store meat counters. In 2022, Kansas Farm Bureau purchased Shop Kansas Farms, with McNary still very much involved, and is expanding the program to include regional food systems that encompass the production, processing and distribution of food products in a local area. These “Harvest Hubs” involve entire communities including farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and consumers.

Border Queen Harvest Hub

In 2023, a meeting between staff from Shop Kansas Farms and the Patterson Family Foundation resulted in a nearly $300,000 grant from the foundation, allowing Shop Kansas Farms to create its first Harvest Hub. The grant provided funding for a website, an executive director and two years of consultation from Kansas Farm Bureau and Shop Kansas Farms. The money also allows the hub to host monthly regional town halls.

Understanding the importance of community support for the first hub, Shop Kansas Farms early on sought out community leaders and engaged with the Sumner County economic development director and the county commissioners. The commissioners’ endorsement of the idea came with funding for a part-time staffer to help build the hub’s contact resource management system.

Since most of the hub’s biggest supporters were located in the city of Caldwell, nicknamed the “Border Queen” for its proximity to the Oklahoma border, the hub was named the Border Queen Harvest Hub.

Buzz Around the Hub

There are now more than 150 farms and ranches accessible via the Border Queen Harvest Hub’s robust website. The hub also brings the food system to life via town halls, where consumers and farmers can learn more about the hub, and their “Market of Farms,” which brings vendors and consumers from all over the state together to make local foods available for purchase. And farm tours showcase seasonal offerings at some of the hub’s participating farms.

Sedgwick County Harvest Hub

With a nearly $300,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, Shop Kansas Farms is launching the next Harvest Hub in Sedgwick County, in which Wichita, Kansas’ largest city, is located.

Community Connections

Each of the hubs will be funded and launched separately, but they’re all as much about community connections as they are about supporting farmers and ranchers. The digital component allows consumers to follow the steps between farm and fork, which enhances food system transparency, fosters trust and encourages community engagement. It also instills local pride and, with its focus on local purchasing, helps keep the regional food system resilient and growing. The hubs’ events, like town halls, farm tours and the markets of farms provide another dimension to the overall community experience.

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Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Beef for Backpacks and Pork for Packs program brings together several organizations from across the state – including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation, FFA and the state’s two main food banks – to provide protein to more than 35,000 chronically hungry children each week.

Much of the meat for the protein sticks distributed in the kids’ backpacks comes from FFA members who donate their show cattle and hogs at the end of spring and fall show seasons.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau coordinates the animal collection and care at the state’s two largest youth livestock events: the Oklahoma Youth Expo, held in March, and the Tulsa State Fair, held in October. In addition to working with event staff to collect the animals, Oklahoma Farm Bureau coordinates transportation to and processing of the animals at several processing plants across the region.

The custom-labeled protein sticks are delivered to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma for inclusion in the backpack program. The backpacks are then distributed to schools across Oklahoma for students facing food insecurity to take home for the weekend.

FFA Hunger Challenge

Through the FFA Hunger Challenge, Oklahoma FFA Association chapters compete for awards for supplying the most donated animals and for cash donations to help offset the transportation, processing and other costs, which many chapters raise by adding 25 cents to each fundraising item they sell throughout the year.

In 2024, FFA members donated 265 hogs to the program, which created 424,000 protein sticks. Monetary donations totaled $8,703.

By combining the FFA cash donations with additional funds from the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, the coalition donated $20,000 to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the primary food bank partner of the program, and $10,000 to the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. The donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma was strategically given during a dollar-for-dollar match window, doubling the coalition’s impact.

All participating FFA chapters were recognized at the Oklahoma FFA Convention in May 2024. Winning chapters were presented awards celebrating their animal and cash donations.

Beyond Money and Meat

In addition to protein stick and monetary donations, Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s collaboration with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in 2024 included 370 volunteer hours through various youth programs.

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By Cora Okkema

As the sixth Michigan Farm Bureau president who primarily grows specialty crops, Ben LaCross of Leelanau County attributes his rise in leadership to those who found a place for him in the organization. Along with his wife Kelsey, their three children — Keaton, Lauren and Cameron — and his parents, Ben grows cherries, apples and plums on the family farm.

Ben’s Farm Bureau journey began shortly after college when he was invited to serve on the state Young Farmer Committee, sparking a dedication to advocating for agriculture that would shape his entire career.

Ben fondly reminisced about the conversation he and his wife shared on their way home from his first state Young Farmer Committee meeting: “I had found my home. I had found a group of farmers who were as motivated as me to do good things in agriculture. That passion for Farm Bureau, our members and agriculture hasn't waned from that day.”

During his two-year term on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, a position he was appointed to in 2010, Ben was elected chair from 2011-2012. The experience taught him how to lead peers he deeply respected and looked up to. He learned that leading highly motivated individuals requires finding ways to give them purpose in their service, a skill that served him well as a Michigan Farm Bureau district director and now as president, a position he was elected to in winter 2024. Ben was elected to serve on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors in January 2025.

Having experienced many of the milestones and challenges young farmers and ranchers face, like getting married, starting farms or ranches, and growing families, Ben understands the importance of inviting and listening to young voices. This cross-generational knowledge sharing builds community across different commodities and farming traditions.

Michigan Farm Bureau's programs, from Project RED to the Lansing Legislative Seminar, offer opportunities for members at all levels. The networks and relationships created through this service strengthen agriculture while helping members learn to share their unique stories. Farm Bureau provides a foundation for sharing those stories and becoming a resource for others who lack direct agricultural connections.

The role of Michigan Farm Bureau president can seem mysterious to those not serving in executive positions. Ben is working to change that by staying present locally through listening sessions, visiting district meetings across the state and leveraging partnerships to create opportunities for more people to learn about and get involved in agriculture.

Remembering that his own start resulted from being invited to the table, Ben now gets to offer that same chance to others. As he looks toward the future of Michigan agriculture, his vision is clear: creating an environment where farmers can grow and prosper, solving problems they can't tackle alone and ensuring that every voice, whether from a cherry orchard, urban garden or a dairy barn, has a place at the Farm Bureau table. After all, as he learned nearly two decades ago in Lansing, finding your home in agriculture often begins with a simple invitation.

Cora Okkema serves on the AFBF YF&R Committee. She is the owner/operator of Okkema Cattle Company, a custom dairy heifer-raising business in Michigan. Cora is also a territory manager & calf specialist with Dairy Tech LLC.

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To engage with the public about agriculture, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau hosted Ag Day at the Albuquerque Isotopes.

The event, held June 24, 2024, drew over 6,000 attendees. Multiple state agricultural organizations were invited to host a booth and show the urban Alburquerque audience how they are connected to agriculture in their daily life. Additionally, the NMF&LB hosted an interactive activity displaying agricultural facts specific to baseball.

Along with the various agricultural organizations, two member benefit dealerships displayed equipment and a vehicle, showcasing one of the many perks of being a Farm Bureau member. The two dealerships were situated in front of the stadium, next to a local FFA chapter displaying their show animals.

Both farmer and associate members volunteered at the NMF&LB booth, handing out cowbells with the NMF&LB and Isotopes logos to the first 3,000 attendees and connecting with urban members on the importance of agriculture. State policymakers joined NMF&LB in their VIP suite to directly interact with Farm & Livestock Bureau members and hear what issues are most important to them.

State Awards of Excellence

Ag Day at the Isotopes earned NMF&LB a state Award of Excellence in the coalitions and partnerships category, presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The award is presented annually at the AFBF convention.

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The American Farm Bureau Federation’s new Member Benefit partner provides solutions for team-wide communications and asset record management. Wisconsin-based Gripp offers an operator-centric way to manage and keep records of any important assets using an app that keeps everyone on the team connected in real time.

Along with being the organization’s newest Member Benefit partner, Gripp, led by Farm Bureau member Tracey Wiedmeyer, is the 2025 AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge winner.

“The member benefit partnership, like the Ag Innovation Challenge, is an opportunity to get Gripp into the hands of growers and producers nationwide, transforming the way they manage their operation’s assets and communicate with their teams, so they're able to focus on thriving in every season,” said Wiedmeyer.

As a Farm Bureau Member Benefit partner, Gripp will offer exclusive discounts on products and services to help Farm Bureau members on and off the farm.

Gripp bills itself as is agriculture’s easiest way to track what’s most important to farmers and their farms, from trucks to trees, pivots to power units. The app, available on all desktop and handheld operating systems, allows users to keep tabs on everything across all brands in one place. Through Gripp, farmers can seamlessly message their teams, keeping conversational context from escaping the farm, stay up to date on service intervals with alerts and reminders and keep asset data centralized and accessible to their operators.

Farmers are using the platform’s tools for tracking equipment and assets, managing maintenance schedules, facilitating team communication and documenting operational knowledge. They also use it to manage rental housing and office maintenance needs, plus personal vehicle repair and more.

You can even test out leaving a note on a skid steer, as you would on your own equipment.

Learn more about the many ways Gripp can help you simplify and streamline your records for maintenance, operations and more, or sign up today at www.gripp.ag.

Farm Bureau® Member Benefits

It pays to be a Farm Bureau Member. Farm Bureau is working to help members achieve their goals through savings on the products and services they need. On behalf of Farm Bureau’s nearly 5.9 million members, Farm Bureau is thankful for our national member benefit partners and the value they add to every membership.

In 2024, national member benefits programs saved members over $12,000,000*, creating over $1,500,000* in revenue to support the Farm Bureau mission. Learn more about Farm Bureau® Member Benefits here or contact your state Farm Bureau.

Ag Innovation Challenge

The Ag Innovation Challenge showcases U.S. startups developing solutions to the many unique challenges farmers, ranchers and rural communities face. As the 2025 AFBF Ag Innovation Challenge winner, Gripp received a total of $100,000 to grow their business.

Sponsored by Farm Credit, Bayer Crop Science, John Deere, Farm Bureau Bank, Farm Bureau Financial Services and T-Mobile, the Challenge is now in its 12^th year.

The four teams advancing to the final round will each receive $10,000 and will be announced on Sept. 10. The four teams will compete on Monday, Jan. 12, at the AFBF Convention in front of a live audience of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives.

Top titles and prizes will be awarded as follows:

• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Winner, total of $100,000
• Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge Runner-Up, total of $25,000

* Based on available figures and estimated average prices.

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