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 might not be Master Anglers, but we do a little fishing from time to time on the Jones Ranch. Thanks for joining me today on Ranch Raised.
Growing up, a highlight of my childhood was taking a net over to my great grandma’s house to catch a few gold fish out of her horse tank. While my grandma and great grandma enjoyed a glass of sun tea, my sister and I would fill an old Schwans ice cream bucket with water, put the fish in it, and put a lid on it. We would then take these fish back to my grandma and grandpa’s place and release these new genetics into their cattle tanks.
I don’t know what it is about raising kids on a ranch and always having a few goldfish in the tanks, but it sure does bring a lot of joy! This past weekend while many families were out on the lake and enjoying recreations that we don’t get to; my girls found a few goldfish trying to hang on for dear life in a tank that got drank dry by some cows. So they quickly sprang into action, went back to the barn to get a bucket that would be the rescue apparatus to transport these fish to a new tank that has a few other friends in it.
I know these are only goldfish but to see these girls take care of even these little creatures like they were prize winning cattle heading to the county fair filled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
We may not have a fishing pole or boat on the Jones Ranch. We may never get to take fancy vacations. But, when I see that our goldfish light up my kids day, I would say that is a life worth living!
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.
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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