Soul of Farming: A Good Farm Dog (Photo Essay)

Organic Valley has cherished the Kline family’s contributions to organic and to our cooperative community for nearly 20 years. David Kline has always spoken and written so eloquently about how we farm, and in this Soul of Farming portrait, he speaks about the important contribution of a good farm dog.

David is not only a lover of good dogs, he also cares deeply for the wild animals that call his farm home. Back in spring 2002, when Rootstock was a print magazine, he wrote about the arrival of spring on the farm and how his family changed their pasture management schedule to accommodate nesting wild birds.

“What has worked well on our farm is to lightly graze one field when the grass reaches six to eight inches and then let it go for hay,” David wrote. “This allows the grassland birds time for nest-building, egg-laying, and raising their families before the field is cut. Some years, we’ll wait an extra week or ten days to cut... Our goal is to see flying young bobolinks. In good years we have counted up to 45 singing males in one 45-acre field.”

David, along with all the farmers who are part of the Organic Valley cooperative, loves animals and cares about making them happy and healthy. This passion has kept us doing what we do for 30-plus years.

And David’s not kidding about Rosie. She really is the best farm dog!

We’re pretty sure a farm isn’t a farm without a dog. For your extra enjoyment, here are more very good doggos from our Organic Valley farms.