OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Jorge and Debbie Garcia-Bengochea’s dog, Sirius, was named the 2025 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Convention on Jan. 26, 2025, in San Antonio, TX.

Sirius, a 6-year-old Maremma sheepdog, gets his name from the dog star in the galaxy. The name was chosen by children at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, TN, according to Debbie.

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A panel of judges with expertise in pet care, veterinary medicine, and communications selected the 2025 Farm Dog of the Year from nationwide submissions. “I’m not sure who their panel was, I know it was veterinary professionals,” Debbie said. “There were dogs from all over the country who were under consideration, so there was a panel that made the final selection, and they contacted us.”

A film crew flew in from Washington, D.C., Colorado, and Chicago to capture Sirius in action as a guard dog on the Garcia-Bengochea farm. However, unexpected weather events, such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, presented logistical challenges. “We said, ‘sure you can come.’ But we got hit pretty hard by Hurricane Helene, so we were trying to clear off enough property, so they had a place to film,” Debbie recalled. “There was damage to the barn, to the house, to the fences. And then a week later, it was Hurricane Milton. But they came and filmed and invited us to come to San Antonio for their big convention. They had about 5,000 people in the audience, where they showed the film.”

Purina donated prizes for the contest, including $5,000 in prize money, a trophy plate, a year’s supply of Pro-Plan dog food, and other Purina products for Sirius. Jorge Garcia-Bengochea accepted the plaque and check after Sirius took home the prestigious honor. Sirius was also presented with a large basket of dog goodies, including treats. “Sirius gets a year’s supply of dog food,” said Debbie. “Guard dogs eat a lot of food. They run with the horses.”

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses in Ocala has a team of Maremma sheepdogs, and Sirius is renowned for his dependability and strong bond with the horses. When one of the therapy horses returns from a hospital visit, it’s Sirius who greets them, escorting them back to the field. “The reason that we have guard dogs on the farm is for their safety as well as the horses,” said Garcia-Bengochea. “Our therapy horses could not live the great life that they live if it weren’t for the dogs.”

Sirius shares a special bond with one particular therapy horse, Mercury. Sirius was eight weeks old when Mercury was born. The two became fast friends, with Mercury trusting the dogs completely. Their friendship is the subject of a children’s book, Mercury and Sirius, with the theme “just because we’re different doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”