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!
If you missed yesterday’s Ranch Raised you may want to catch up on the Your Ag Network app or website, because here is where I am going to pick it up!
As I passed the man on that old international cabless tractor, the amount of life he has lived was visible on his face. The interesting juxtaposition was not lost on me. He probably held more information about the history of the cattle industry than I could ever search up on google. Yet, here I was headed to the modern day Black Hills Stock Show to represent cattle producers on an industry panel.
I would think about him on my entire trip up to the Black Hills and the heaviness of the responsibility to fight for his generation that fought to hold the independent cattle industry together. I fight so hard not only for our future, but also out of deep respect from cattlemen and women like this guy who is still out feeding his cows with a cabless tractor in the middle of winter on the Nebraska prairie. While this industry is trying to steal our independence and usher us into an age of technology and vertical integration. Part of me fights to that this man and his generation can live out their golden years doing what they love.
In the 30 seconds of observation I had, I left with no doubt knowing the amount of courage and sacrifice that man had made for his cattle, his family, and this industry. If you desire a future in this cattle industry, I encourage you to show up with the same amount of courage and fortitude to fight the forces that are trying to take down our way of life. I’m warning you, it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it!
Follow Karina Jones on Facebook!
Karina ranches with her husband, Marty, and 3 daughters 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 that is broadcast on 60 radio stations with coverage in 9 states, where she deep dives into cattle industry issues and highlights R-CALF’s work on 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 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
