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!
Kids and dirt! Thanks for joining me today on Ranch Raised.
I grew up playing in the dirt and I’m sure my husband did too, so it should be no surprise that dirt, kids playing in dirt, and dirty kids are completely acceptable to me. I have also subscribed to the reality that if our kids were going to be outside, working right along with us, having dirty kids at the end of the night would just be normal.
My older girls loved a good mud puddle to make mud pies, mud cakes, mud brownies, mud cookies, you name it. Now I have a little boy who is obsessed with working the dirt with his little loader and Tonka trucks.
Maybe it was this free play in the dirt that stuck with them as they got older. My 14 year old loves to garden right along with me. This week she transplanted rhubarb for me and is keeping all of my newly transplanted plants well watered. Yesterday when we were at the green house, my 9 year old picked out a small pot and some pansies that she is going to create an Easter centerpiece with and then transplant outside when it gets a little warmer. My oldest daughter was eyeing pots and succulents possibly planning her next plant project.
When it comes to kids, dirt, and plants my kids know I can’t say “no”. If there is a flower or vegetable that intrigues them, we will probably go home with it. I encourage parents to let your kids go wild with dirt! Take them to a greenhouse. Let them choose a special plant or two to take home and care for this summer! The lessons and connection to nature can not be replaced any other way!
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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