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!
Anyone with school age kids knows we are in the “spring sprint season”! Let’s get to it right here on Ranch Raised!
This week will be a whirlwind of watching my girls do some really awesome things and it has nothing to do with the color of ribbon they receive. For example, last night I had the privilege of watching our county 4-H public speaking contest. These kids just amazed me and had my heart. From a senior speaker giving a very polished presentation about ag relevancy in the everyday world to a junior speaker talking about her ups and downs in the 4-H horse program.
And then there was a whole herd of novice speakers who got to enter a special story telling division. This is a special division to our county, and I highly encourage other counties to consider adding such an event. These first-time public speakers don’t have to write and present an organized speech, instead they can read a book, recite a poem, or tell a story. Oh my heart, one young man marched right through El Diablo by Edgar Allen Poe, we had a little Dr. Seuss reciting, fun books about sheep and dogs, and then my daughter wrote and recanted a real life horseback riding experience that she titled, “Ruby the Runaway.”
It just reminded me how grateful I am that these kids have this small, warm stage to step onto and safely build their public speaking skills and confidence, because it is truly a steppingstone to some many big opportunities they may have in their future!
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 former 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.
[email protected] or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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