Karina Jones

It’s PIE DAY here on Ranch Raised! No, I don’t mean 3.14 or March 14, I am clearly aware that today is May 26. What I mean is it is pie baking day here in my kitchen, which precedes branding weekend.

The past few days I have witnessed something that totally fills my cup, kids working with livestock! My older girls took part in a sheep and goat show camp alongside some great kids and mentored by some pretty awesome young adults. Not only did they have a ton of fun, they learned a lot. Respect was demanded and the kids were fully present.

If you are like me, you are looking for ways to keep that grocery cart in the center of the budget lane. I have had to become more creative and more aware of my buying habits at the grocery store. Today I want to share with you, what I am doing differently at the grocery store and in my kitchen.

There seems to be a lot of uncertainty and unrest among people like me, that grow food and people like many of you, that consume food. Consumers are being forced to pay highly inflated food prices. I know I watch everything I put in my grocery cart and question carefully whether or not it is a want or a need. The days of $1 loaf of bread are over. I carefully think about every meal as I stroll the aisles. What used to be pantry staples are now considered luxury items.

When I talk about the cattle industry lighting a fire in my soul, it is no wonder. I am surrounded by lots of like-minded people who feel the same way. Infact, I live in Custer County, NE, the #2 beef cow county in the entire nation with over 100,000 cows in it. Cattle are the economic driver of my county and my state, like many other states. My neighbors and I care a lot of raising the best, safest beef on the planet for your enjoyment!

I will admit, I am one of those weird moms that loves having her kids at home. I love the conversations. I love working alongside of them. I love that my older girls are into cooking and baking so they take initiative in the kitchen.

I was looking around my garden beds yesterday and the word “heritage” struck me. The older I get, the more appreciation I have for heritage and legacy. I can even recognize those qualities in the plants I see this time of year.

Welcome to “Psycho Spring” here on Ranch Raised! It is the farm and ranch season of life where we need 40 hours in a day and 10 days in a week to get everything done!

The girls and I broke away for a day to step outside of their comfort zone and into a new arena to do something they have never done before. They competed in their first ever JABGA and ABGA goat shows. That stands for American Boer Goat Assocation.

As the head cook in the house, this also means that I am basically the family nutritionist. I know that I need to place the majority of my focus on whole foods that pack a nutritional punch. I can always count on beef to be that powerful protein source that is amazing for the growing brains and bodies around my table!