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!
The story of a family-owned shoe store in small town America. Thanks for joining me today on Ranch Raised.
As a little girl, growing up in Box Butte County, Nebraska, there was only ever one place anyone ever got their shoes and that was on main street, which is a historic cobble stone street I might add, in Alliance, NE. We go our boots down the block at Art & Jerry’s, but the Easter sandals, the jelly shoes, the new school tennis shoes in the fall those all came from Redman’s Shoe Store.
As I have had children of my own my mom and grandma, and myself still bought a lot of our shoes and even my children’s shoes at that shoe store, even though I don’t live in that community anymore. Infact, the tennis shoes that my 1st grader is wearing at school today were purchased at Redman’s Shoe Store. Okay, you get it, I’m sort of attached.
But now it changes and my heart is broken because THE BIG have won again. Dave, the owner of Redman’s has alerted customers that he is closing his doors. Gosh, this seems more personal. I have taken this really hard. Literally. I’ve been stewing on this subject for weeks. It is what led me to talk all about this week on Ranch Raised.
I’m mad and I want to come out swinging. Does America even want a small-town America? Does this country even care if there are any independently owned businesses left? All lawmakers, Attorney Generals and the Federal Trade Commission need to listen up because tomorrow I am sharing a letter Mr Dave wrote to his Redman Shoe customers that is the real voice of small town America!
HOT BARN REPORT: Shop Small, Shop Local, Support Rural America
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 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, 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.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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