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!
Back to school for most. Thanks for joining me today on Ranch Raised.
While our family life no longer includes public school, my kids are still in contact with lots of their friends that do attend public school. I remember all of the big emotions leading up to those first few days going back to school. Lots of anxiety about what the year would be like. Would they still have the same friend group after being pretty distant over the summer living their lives on the ranch. Then going back to school was always a tough integration for my kids. The polarity of how different their lives were compared to their peers was on full display. My kids would be worried about things like the hayfield and their show animals in the barn. Their peers would be talking about the sports camps and vacations they went on. And it seemed like most of the faculty could never relate to my kids’ lives. And so it became glaring to my kids, even from a young age, that we live a very different life than most of society.
I know that many kids are dealing with the heavy feelings that my kids once had as they dive back down the back to school road. I encourage all families to slow down this week. Eat supper around the dinner table. Ask lots of questions. Do lots of listening. Take a walk with your kids and I can’t say it enough, “SLOW DOWN”! There are big feelings happening under your roof and I’m betting they are looking for a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen.
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 4 children near Merriman, 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.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
Follow Karina Jones on Facebook!
