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.
When I was a much younger mom with just a toddler and infant, I remember getting asked by another young ranch woman,“How do you just take your little kids with you every where?” I had never given it much thought, I just responded, “I guess I just do it.” I’ve never given any thought to separating my mom life from ranch life. Sometimes I had a big belly in the saddle while I was ponying a toddler. Sometimes I wore a wee babe on the front until they were big enough to go on the back of my saddle. I almost always have a child or two with me in the cab of a tractor putting up hay or in the pick up feeding hay. I never have a well thought out plan, I just never doubt it either.
Now that our ranching operation continues to grow in acres and hooves, with more distance in between I was just asked that same question this week, “how do you guys do it?” The last 24 hours I will have driven 500 miles round trip to swing down to our south ranch, go around some fence, move heifers to their next pasture, put a bull in with some fall cows, put out salt and mineral all while having a toddler in tow. My only regret this trip was I didn’t bring a long a good dog. So while I was down south, my husband and 11 year old are off helping family freeze brand heifers for a few days, leaving our 16 old at our north ranch to take care of a lot full of fresh weaned heifer calves, barn chores, and a horse that needs doctored.
So I guess the answer is, “just do it!” And having an ornery streak of independence and raising some really good kids also helps.
karina@youragnetwork.com or visit facebook.com/ranchraisedwithkarinajones
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