Brown’s Farm Stand is known for selling fresh produce from its Townsend Avenue location for decades. But the stand’s cucumbers, beans, tomatoes and other vegetables have major competition for customers’ full attention. Reese, a 5-year-old dog, has customers amazed at his passion for shucking and eating corn right off the cob. The greyhound-Labrador mix is owned by Lydia and Jonah Cronkhite of Nobleboro who operate the Boothbay Harbor farm stand. And one of the treats Lydia gives Reese is un-shucked corn. 

Reese eagerly takes the corn and shucks it and eats all the kernels. “We first knew he liked corn when he pulled a corn stock from our farm, and came back running with it in his mouth,” Lydia said. “Reese liked it right off the bat, and he removes the husk, and eats right down to the cob.”

The Cronkhites adopted Reese over four years ago. Reese is a rescue dog from Mississippi brought to Mid Coast Humane in Brunswick. The Cronkhites were looking for a family dog and saw hundreds of barking dogs at the shelter anxious to attract the attention of new parents. But Jonah saw Reese laying quietly by the chain link fence. “He went over and Reese gave him a lick. At that point, we knew he was the right dog for us,” she said. 

Once Reese joined the couple in Nobleboro, he quickly found himself right at home. “He is definitely a farm dog. He wakes up every morning quivering anxious to get in the car and head to the farm and get working,” Lydia said.

Reese also enjoys trips to the Boothbay Harbor farm stand. He receives vegetable treats from Lydia and several regular farm stand patrons. “Oh my gosh, everybody loves him. Reese is very calm and doesn't bark when people arrive. People bring him treats which he really enjoys,” she said.  

Reese is named for television character Mr. John Reese from “A Person of Interest,” which ran on the CBS television network from 2011 to 2016. “We started watching the show after we married and named him after the main character who is a real tough guy,” Lydia said.

The couple married in 2014. They care for two foster children, and Lydia said Reese will soon have another family member to love, as she is pregnant.

Reese enjoys eating carrots and cherry tomatoes, but he won’t eat green beans or cucumbers.