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!
This week, I’m switching hats and hitting the road! I’m here to tell you all about it, today on Ranch Raised.
I don’t talk about my full-time employment here on Ranch Raised, but it certainly deserves attention. There is no doubt my loyal listeners know I am passionate about raising cows and kids. A few years ago my activism for the rural way of life and saving the independent cattle industry became noticed by the members of R-CALF USA. I was asked to join their staff and now serve as the role of field director.
Today I will get on the road and travel down my favorite stretch of black top, beautiful Highway 2 in Nebraska and then meander north to Rapid City, SD where I will spend the rest of the week with like-minded cattle and sheep producers at the annual R-CALF Convention.
I take my time away from my family and our ranch very seriously. I embark to serve the members of R-CALF and the cattle industry. While our cattle markets may be at high point in the market cycle, there are some obvious issues that cannot be ignored. We have less cattle in the countryside than we have in decades. You see, ranching is a hard, demanding life and we can’t forget an expensive one at that. Less and less people are choosing this way of life. We have a lot stacked against us. Imports of beef and cattle. Inflation is outpacing the cattle market. Costs of inputs continue to soar beyond revenues.
These are the hard conversations that others and I will have this week as we look for solutions to save our legacy and our way of life. Don’t just think that my livelihood is on the line. Feeding our country is at stake!
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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