Meet Tough: The 2023 American Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year

Apr 21, 2023

Tough lives and works on a livestock farm in Jackson County, Kan.

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The top farm dog in the U.S. for 2023 is tough.

She’s also Tough.

Tough is a nearly 15-year-old border collie who lives on Denny and Donna Ashcraft’s livestock farm in Jackson County, Kan., and recently received the title of Farm Dog of the Year from the American Farm Bureau.

The Ashcraft’s got Tough from a friend of theirs in Oklahoma.

Tough used to compete against herd dogs from around the world. And in 2014 was the Denver National Western Reserve Grand Champion and Champion of the open division in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

In 2015, however, Tough suffered a serious spinal cord injury while rounding up livestock.

This injury left her paralyzed for a short period of time, but with help from doctors and support from Denny and Donna, Tough is close to 90 percent of how she was before her accident.

Farms.com spoke with the Ashcrafts about how Tough came into their lives, the joy she brings on the farm and how she lives up to her name.

The American Farm Bureau started the Farm Dog of the Year competition in 2018 to celebrate the companions who work alongside U.S. farmers.

The top dog wins a year’s supply of dog food and a $5,000 cash prize.

Top photo: Denny and Tough in a Facebook photo.

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