Paws with purpose: California's top farm dogs

By Linda DuBois

They’re hardworking helpers, tackling the tough tasks that come with life on farms and ranches. They’re also loyal companions, bringing happiness—and often a bit of mischief—to daily rural living.

These are the tail-wagging champions of the California Farm Bureau’s 2025 Farm Dog of the Year contest.

With support from Nationwide and open to Farm Bureau members, the competition invites participants to share photos and answer a few questions about their cherished farm dogs. The top winner received a $1,000 Grand Prize, with additional prizes of $500 for First Place, $250 for Second and $100 for Third.

Following is the story of this year’s Grand Prize winner, a miniature long-haired dachshund named Willy.

Small pup, big mission

At first glance, Willy doesn’t fit the stereotype of a farm dog. He’s just shy of 15 pounds, with short legs and a sweet face that seems better suited to laps than livestock. But according to his people—Bailey Thomas and her boyfriend Marshal Hagedorn—this little dog plays a large role in logging and cattle ranching.

Willy was adopted in 2023 to be a companion to Kimber, a golden-retriever lab mix, and soon evolved into a job partner on the ranch and in the forest.

Hagedorn owns Hagedorn Forestry Management, working as a tree feller mostly in Shasta and Tehama counties. He also has cattle near Montague, close to the Oregon border.

At the cattle ranch, Willy is an active working dog, but during logging excursions, Willy’s role offers moral support and companionship during long hours in a solitary environment.

Willy starts most days at 3 a.m., ready for the two-hour drive into the mountains.

“I hike around and cut the oversized trees that the loggers can’t handle with their machines,” Hagedorn said, adding Willy is always by his side, watching him work from a safe distance. “He goes with me everywhere every single day.”

Willy even tagged along on a 2-month-long logging excursion throughout the mountains of the U.S. to forests in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania, among other states.

At the cattle ranch, Willy is diligent in hunting critters such as rabbits and ground squirrels, which can be a “real nuisance,” especially when they dig holes, Hagedorn said.

Despite not being a traditional herding breed, Willy seems to have picked up the job naturally. He’s never been taught to corral livestock, but when he realized his people often wanted the cattle to go in a certain direction, he started helping move calves and even many of the larger cattle with his energy and bark.

Tireless and courageous

“He’s fearless,” Thomas said, adding that he’s even broken up bullfights. “For a small dog, he has a lot of heart and grit. … Willy may be small, but he makes a big impact.”

Thomas acknowledged it might seem strange that cattle could be controlled by such a tiny dog, but she said she thinks they are startled into complying because “he surprises them.”

Hagedorn agrees. “He’s so small, and when he comes out of the grass at full speed, they don’t really know what to think,” he said.

Willy occasionally does need a break after hours on the ranch. That’s when he’ll get off his feet by asking for a horseback ride, Thomas said.

“He’ll come and he’ll put his front feet up on your horse’s leg so you can pick him up, and then he’ll ride around on your lap,” she said. “After work, he’s helping break horses, checking cows or leading horses back to the trailer.”

Work and snuggles

Willy enjoys tagging along with Thomas and Hagedorn when they participate in various ranching-skills competitions or horse shows, just to be with them and cheer them on from the sidelines.

At home, he’s a “snuggler” who loves to sit on laps, Thomas said.

“And he’s incredibly soft, so whenever you need something to pet, he’s a pretty dang good choice,” Hagedorn added.

When he gets a playful streak, he loves chasing his tennis ball around the house and tossing his toy monkey around. 

“He’s just a fun personality all the time,” Hagedorn added.

The only one who doesn’t always appreciate Willy’s incessant playful spirit is 8-year-old Kimber. The older dog sometimes seems a little annoyed by the spirited dachshund—like when Willy keeps jumping up and playing with his floppy ears and licking his face. But they’re also pals. 

“They go on adventures all the time and chase squirrels and cows together,” Hagedorn said.

“It’s pretty cute,” Thomas added. “When they’re out, they can go for miles, and Willy will be keeping up with Kimber the whole time.”

Popular pooch

Willy has a bit of fashion flair, often sporting a cowboy hat and bow tie at formal events such as weddings.

Dressed up or not, Willy always behaves like a gentleman while out in public.

“If we take him places, he’s very respectful of other people and dogs,” Thomas said.

“Typically, with these littler dogs, they’re pretty yappy and high-strung and anxious all the time,” Hagedorn said. “But he’s just really calm and laid back.”

On top of that, Willy has impeccable manners. He won’t touch food left in the truck without permission.

These attributes, along with his adorable appearance, often endear him to everyone he meets.

“He’s pretty popular,” Thomas said. “He has fans wherever he goes.”

And the runners-up are…

Kelsey Nichols,
Solano County Farm Bureau

Jim is a loyal, hardworking herding dog and constant companion to his owner, Kelsey Nichols, on her 3,000-acre Rio Vista ranch, where she raises sheep and grain. Just a month after losing a hind leg to infection, Jim was already back to limited herding and is now back to normal work, but in shorter spurts.

As Nichols’ main working dog, the 5-year-old border collie moves sheep between pastures and catches individuals needing care.

“He will gather sheep from up to a half a mile away and take commands at that distance,” Nichols said. “He is a courageously hard worker and never gives up even on the most challenging sheep.”  

Beyond his skills, Jim is by Nichols’ side day and night—riding in the pickup or four-wheeler, sleeping by her bed and offering steady support.

“There are many great farm dogs, but Jim has shown so much resilience and determination this year during his illness and amputation. He has gone above and beyond,” Nichols said.

Sam Terpstra,
Stanislaus County Farm Bureau

Life on the Terpstra family’s Wood Colony Farm Stand in Modesto wouldn’t be the same without Corduroy. The 11-year-old labradoodle is always by their side, helping them with tasks on the farm, where they grow 1/4 acre of flowers, 1/2 acre of pumpkins and 1 acre of fruit trees. 

“He is always excited to head outside and start the day,” Sam Terpstra said.

Corduroy’s favorite job is hunting for gophers. “He has a good nose and usually alerts us to a pest before we see any damage in our gardens,” Terpstra said. 

When he’s not on patrol, you might find him sampling fruit in the orchard or happily tagging along on flower and fruit deliveries.

While Corduroy is not a typical “working dog,” he “earns his keep every day, patrolling for gophers and joining in on daily tasks,” Terpstra said. “He is a loyal companion who enriches our lives in countless meaningful ways.”

August D’Amato,
Napa County Farm Bureau

August D’Amato and her husband, Ben Forgeron, both work as vineyard managers in the Napa area and have “long, inconsistent hours and a lot of after-work commitments,” D’Amato said. They need a dog that can match their pace and contribute to the work.

“Sheila is the most excited in our family to go to work every day,” D’Amato said.

Her primary role is pest control. She catches gophers, helps trappers by digging mounds and chases deer off the property. During planting season, she digs holes for new vines and soil samples and helps spread hay for erosion control.

She also works alongside the vineyard crews and “always brings a welcome smile or laugh to a difficult job,” D’Amato said. No matter who she’s with, she’s a source of joy, she added. 

“She is able to sense stress and sadness and will come to comfort you in a time of need,” D’Amato said.

Linda DuBois is a reporter in West Sacramento. She can be reached at agalert@cfbf.com.