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!
As most of you know, my husband and I work every day with our 4 kids by our side. Infact, they are a major part of our labor force on this ranch. I’ve always said that most of our days around here resemble a modern version of the John Wayne movie, “The Cowboys.”
We wholeheartedly believe that kids are very capable of doing some big things, if given the chance! And sometimes we invite other kids to be a part of our crazy! With rain in the forecast and the days of May dwindling fast, we knew we needed to get our first group of calves branded and worked. Planning is not my husband’s strength zone. He tends to throw big projects together with about 24 hours notice. So with a quick call to the local wrestling coach we had 7 young men in our yard, along with our 3 daughters to work our first big set of calves. What would seem impossible to some, was no big deal to my husband, who led his crew of 10 kids to wrestle and brand a salty group of 100 calves in just over an hour. To be honest, it almost took me longer to run to town and get the pizza and cookies than it did for them to work those calves. Believing in those kids and giving them the helpful guidance to work safely was all they needed from my husband to get the big job done.
This belief in the next generation was on further display when yesterday I watched as my girls put CIDRS in their heifers for their next AI project. Even my 8 year old daughter was in the chute, right behind her heifer to learn and execute the task. Every skill can be mastered, but first we must hand the reins over and give guidance!
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.
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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