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!
We are in the middle of celebrating National FFA Week here on Ranch Raised. Because I love history, I have enjoyed taking a look back at what molded the sea of blue & gold in to what it is today. But how did the most iconic official dress in agriculture and youth organizations begin?
In 1929, National blue and corn gold were adopted as the official FFA colors.
In 1933, FFA advisor Gus Linter saw a blue corduroy jacket in the window of a hardware store in Fredericktown, Ohio. He found the jacket supplier and had his chapter’s name stitched on the back of the jackets with gold thread.
At the 1933 National FFA Convention in Kansas City, the members of Fredericktown FFA debuted their blue jackets. They were so popular, the convention’s official delegates made them part of the official FFA attire. I just love that story!
The millionth FFA jacket was sold in 1964, and by 1976, 2 million jackets had been sold. Today, more than 80,000 jackets are sold annually.
It requires 1.6 yards of corduroy to create one FFA jacket. When you lay eyes on that sea of blue corduroy jackets, there is no doubt if you have ever worn one, that you among some of the most motivated, engaged youth in America.
Tune back in tomorrow to Ranch Raised, for one more day of celebrating National FFA week!
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 3 daughters 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 current 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 that is broadcast on 60 radio stations with coverage in 9 states, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and highlights R-CALF’s work on 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 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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