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!
Welcome to the first Fun Fact Friday of 2026!
Years ago, I set out to use this time and air space at the end of the week to promote American agriculture. For years, I had watched the data and observed more and more foreign sourced food in our grocery stores. I couldn’t help but go down the rabbit hole and research why this country that is so rich in agriculture resources would become more and more reliant on foreign countries to feed us. It seemed so disconnected from everything that our country was built upon.
The produce industry has been sold down the river to cheaper imports which seems criminal, when we have states like Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and California that have prime growing conditions and family farmers with generations of knowledge for raising blueberries, citrus, tomatoes, you name it. But then at the meat counter, finding domestically raised lamb is almost impossible. Our western states were built on the sheep industry that once provided us with a staple of protein and wool. Now its like finding a needle in a haystack to see sheep out on range because at some point, those in power decided we could put cheaper Australian lamb imports in our meat case, leaving out domestic producers forced to get out or sell under their cost of production.
These are just a few examples of why I choose to use my platform to spark passion and ignite interest in supporting American agriculture. I know that we can’t all go out and raise our own beef, oranges, and avocados, but I believe that we hold a lot of power with our consumer dollar! So please, in 2026, read the country of origin labels and support American farmers and ranchers, where ever you can, even if it costs a few cents more, because ultimately, if we continue to support foreign imports, soon, we may not have a choice.
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
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