Ozarks Tech’s own Darby has fetched a major honor: Missouri Farm Bureau’s Farm Dog of the Year.
A toy Australian shepherd–blue heeler mix, Darby works side by side with her owner, Agriculture Department Chair Rob Flatness, and has become a beloved fixture on the Richwood Valley campus. From working with students to the cattle and sheep on the college farm, Darby brings energy and heart to everything she does.
Her mix of charm, work ethic and campus celebrity status made her a standout choice for this year’s award. Get to know the award-winning dog behind the title in our video and Q&A below.
Five questions with Rob Flatness, Agriculture Department Chair
Q: How does Darby enrich your life?
A: Darby is more than a dog. She’s my shadow, sidekick and best friend. If I am headed anywhere that is not a grocery store or restaurant, she’s riding shotgun. On Sundays, she joins us at Sac River Cowboy Church, where she happily soaks up attention from our church family.
Every weekday, she is right by my side at the Richwood Valley Campus and has been since she was 6.5 weeks old. Darby has become a true campus celebrity, especially within our agriculture family. During lectures, she might sit at the front like the most attentive student in the room, curl up in a willing lap or show off her tug-of-war skills with her favorite rope toy.
Darby brings joy to everyone she meets. In fact, when we walk into a room, she’s always the first one greeted. I come in a very distant second.
Q: How does Darby help on the Richwood Valley farm?
A: Darby is not just company. She’s a co-worker. I manage a herd of commercial cows and a flock of Katahdin sheep on the school farm and having her by my side is like gaining two extra ranch hands. Whether she is guiding sheep or keeping cattle moving in the right direction, she makes tough jobs easier, safer and a whole lot more enjoyable.
Darby also gives students a valuable opportunity to learn how to work alongside and manage a skilled farm dog. Because she interacts with students every day, her training has been a top priority. She knows her manners, and I have set clear rules for how others can interact with her to keep both her and the students safe.
Q: What activities on the farm is Darby involved in?
A: Darby wears many hats on the farm. She’s a natural herder, rounding up livestock with precision and enthusiasm. She also welcomes visitors at the Agriculture Training Center and serves as a four-legged recruiter who charms every student she meets. She’s not just part of the team. She’s the heartbeat of it.
Q: What do you and Darby do together for fun?
A: When we’re not working, Darby is all about adventure. She loves riding in the side-by-side or hopping into the truck for any errand, big or small. She is equally at home on the water, ears flying as the boat skims across the lake. At playtime, tug-of-war is her undisputed favorite, though she will happily chase down a frisbee to keep things interesting.
Q: Does Darby have any awards, special skills or tricks?
A: In addition to her recent recognition as the 2026 Diamond Pet Food Missouri Farm Bureau 2026 Farm Dog of the Year, Darby’s specialties are herding livestock with confidence, rolling over on command and performing the ultimate crowd-pleaser: playing dead.
Media credits: Staff photographer Kristina Bridges and staff videographer Austin Barton