Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!
Here comes the sun and well, you can fill in the rest! No matter how yesterday and last night went, I am glad you are here with me today, on Ranch Raised!
Who else looked out at first light and internally said, “man it is good to see the sun!” As the wind subsides and we literally bask in the sun, despite the still frigid temps, today is a day of recovery across the land.
Men and women, tending to livestock are tired. There is just no other way to put it. The days leading up to a big spring storm feels like you have pure adrenaline pumping through your veins. It is almost euphoric. You are giving yourself all the pep talks and moving as fast as wheels can turn.
During the storm you can’t hardly eat or sleep because the worry is consuming you. You are checking radar and the forecast, counting down the hours until the storm breaks and you can reunite with your herd.
And now, we are in the recovery phase. There is no amount of coffee, sausage, and eggs that can be consumed to provide the amount of energy you are in need of, but you pull on the layers of clothes and pull up your boots and head out, hoping for the best but knowing there could be some unwelcome surprises.
Once again, we appreciate all of the men and women who are showing up and doing the work both in and outside of the ag industry! And let’s all just say together, “we are one day closer to spring!”
Be safe, stay warm, and take care!
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 4 children near Broken Bow, NE. She grew up in western NE, with roots also in southwest SD. The cattle industry and raising kids is her passion.
Watching the cattle industry go the path that it has gone, she could no longer sit quietly at home checking cows, fixing fence, and doing all the everyday tasks wondering when some else was going to make it all better. As she became more active and outspoken on industry issues, she was asked to join the R-CALF USA staff in September 2020 as the Checkoff Petition Campaign manager. That position transcended into her former role as full time Field Director for R-CALF USA.
You can hear her almost every Friday on Your Ag Network’s Hot Barn Report, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and industry reforms. Listen to Ranch Raised on a Your Ag Network hometown station or www.youragnetwork.com where she talks about her daily life on the Jones Ranch.
Cattle producers are her people. She will meet you at the county fair, at the sale barn, or anywhere the dusty trail leads.
[email protected] or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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