A Working Dog Awakens

While most of the stories here focus on cattle, a working farm depends on many different animals, each with a role to play.

This winter, we added a small but mighty new helper to the team — Etta, a Rat Terrier bred specifically for rodent control.  Rodent control is not just about protecting feed — it’s also a critical part of maintaining the sanitation standards required for safe raw milk production.

This morning marked an important milestone for Etta: her first carefully controlled introduction to rodents.

There is something remarkable about witnessing instinct unfold in real time. One moment she was curious and unsure, and the next, the purpose she was bred for clicked into place with complete clarity.

She is still young and far from ready for larger challenges like rats, but she has already grasped the basic concept with mice. For a farm dog, this is not simply play — it is the beginning of learning her role in the daily stewardship of the farm.

If early signs are any indication, Etta is going to grow into her responsibilities as a working dog with confidence and natural ability.

And for now, we celebrate a very small but meaningful step forward.