Brady, a hunting dog and farm helper in eastern Iowa, was a finalist for Farm Dog of the Year.

Rose Danaher makes no bones about it: Brady is the best canine she’s ever owned either as a hunting dog, a farm helper or a household companion. “He’s just a fantastic dog,” she said.

Now the Iowa County Farm Bureau member wants all of America to know just how great Brady is.

A 13-year-old German short-haired pointer, Brady was one of the 10 finalists in this year’s American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) People’s Choice Pup contest. 

The winner of the People’s Choice award was Sue, owned by Alabama Farmers Federation members Phil and Kim Slay. The winner of AFBF Farm Dog of the Year was Flint, an Australian shepherd owned by Utah Farm Bureau members Rhett and Beth Crandall. The winners were announced at the AFBF annual convention last month in Austin, Texas. Both awards are sponsored by Purina.

Brady’s prowess as a hunting dog is hard to beat, Danaher said. 

“I take a lot of beginners out to go pheasant hunting, and Brady has had more than 30 first birds shot over him,” she said. “He probably had hundreds of birds shot over him in his lifetime, but I started keeping a tally on the first birds because they are always special.”

It’s a great experience for young hunters to work with a veteran four-legged companion like Brady, Danaher said. “To see a kid smile at Brady, and to see their eyes get big when they see him go on point, that is really cool,” she said.

He’s also a champion around the farm, Danaher said. Brady has been known to comfort ill bottle calves on a cold morning and bark to get his owner’s attention when a wayward cow finds her way through the fence.

Danaher also fosters dogs and relies on Brady to teach many rescue dogs the rules of farm life. His impact spreads beyond the farm — as those rescue dogs have gone on to enrich their new family’s lives in so many ways, she said.

As good as he is on a hunting trip and around the farm, Brady is even a better companion, Danaher said.

“He’s just my best friend. I’d take him everywhere I go, if I could,” she said.

To learn about the winners of the American Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, visit www.fb.org/news.