Your Ag Network

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!

Speaking of new... We have had an extreme corral makeover project going on the last few weeks, replacing the rickety wood posts and rotting fence from our working facilities that are under the most pressure when processing calves. It was beyond time.

Do we have any Yellowstone fans listening? Before I go further, I will admit, I’m not like a super-hot fan girl. I have my own cowboy and live this life every day, in a way less romantic, more wind and dirt kind of way, but I do like analyzing the hype.

If you want to teach the virtues of humility, courage, and independent thinking to a child, have them compete in a dirt arena.

I can think of no better place to teach compassion, responsibility and joy than in a barn! It is no secret that our girls love to be in the barn! From goat kidding to calving season, they love experiencing the new life that is bursting at the seams!

Those kids don’t know it, but every one of them grew personally that day. They gutted it out and learned perseverance. That experience made them into better livestock judgers, competitors and better humans!

Let's just kick off the week with a full-on confession, a bearing of my soul, if you will. I am the parent who unapologetically allows, errrrr, scratch that, encourages my kids to miss school to take advantage of other learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

Our big girls are showing cattle this weekend in Kearney, NE which is not too far from home. Competing in that arena is only a small part of the experience. I have told you that I am a student of life. I look at any situation as a classroom.

A few years ago, it became very apparent to my husband and I that if the next generation wants any possibility at being able to come back to the family farm and ranch, we have to make some systematic changes today in order to ward off the threat of vertically integrating the cattle industry like what has been done in chicken and hogs.

I have been making and sharing my Buckaroo Brownie recipe for years. Chances are if you have ever been a part of the crew that works cattle at our ranch, Buckaroo Brownies are always on the menu, especially if I am serving lunch somewhere out in a pasture.

Our girls are all back to school today after enjoying a 3 day weekend at home. They did all of the things our kids are known to do when they are home, they worked with some of their show cattle in the barn, they rode horses, and they helped with some ranch projects.

The first order of the day is announcing our winner of our 4-H memory contest giveaway. There were some great entries that truly made me smile. Almost all of them talked about special people and unforgettable experiences that 4-H brought in to their lives. But, I have to say that Jackie Maude, from Hermosa, SD takes the cake and is our winner!

Welcome to the kickoff of a 3-day weekend full of sugar, meltdowns, late nights and memories made! Who doesn’t love seeing all of the kids dressed up?

For months the United States Department of Agriculture had been putting out strong messaging about TREATING American agriculture as a priority. But I think we have been TRICKED!

I just want to take a minute to show appreciation for all the volunteers that are making events and celebrations happen for families in communities across our listening area. As production ag families, we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of fall harvest, weaning calves, and all the things happening on the farm and ranch this time of year.

Hard to believe that it is almost November. Our harvest on the farm is not quite wrapped up. I am starting to think about next year and the challenges we will face. We can not ignore the explosion in the cost of energy. Winter is coming.

4-H is under recognized as the incredible community service organization that it is. Community service projects are my favorite thing to watch my girls be involved in.

For many, 4-H becomes a way of life, for the rest of their life. As I reminisce about growing up in this organization, I can’t help but think of how it molded me into the human I am today. Living the 4-H pledge outload, every day, is one of my greatest accomplishments!

I cannot let October slip by without recognizing one of my favorite things that is a part of my past, present, and future. While most people wouldn’t immediately recognize October as such an important month in the 4-H organization, I will tell you that it actually is! October serves as the home of National 4-H week.

It is sort of a bitter sweet time of year. I am super thankful for our mild fall temps that allowed us to enjoy an extended growing season. It made for a bountiful harvest and a full pantry that will be enjoyed all winter long. I am ready to let my garden rest and recharge, just like those ole cows that we just weaned those calves off of. I am ready to dream of next spring.

These are price discovery centers where sellers of cattle meet with buyers of cattle to take part in the greatest business transaction in the American economy! It is a cattle producers dream scenario, multiple buyers, a competitive bidding process, and reporting of the transaction in real time on that marquis sign above the sale ring in addition to post sale reporting. And for those that are reall...

Fall is such a busy time on the farm and ranch. There is an energy across rural America that just has to be experienced to be known. The chant of auctioneers and the gavel dropping at salebarns is the anthem that plays as the fall cattle run is in full swing.

My grandma always had a garden, more modest in size than her own mothers and a beautiful strawberry patch, if you asked me back then I could have sworn that we put up more sweet corn than anyone in the county and she had probably thee best garlic dill pickle recipe!

I want to give you a little glimpse into the rear view mirror of Karina Jones so you can see why I am so passionate about this way of life. I grew up with a great grandma that was tough as nails even though she couldn’t have weighed 100 pounds. Visiting her humble ranch home was truly a walk back in time.

Welcome to Ranch Raised! A brand-new program on your radio dial where we are going to talk about daily country life! I’m your host, Karina Jones. Tune in every week day to get a glimpse of life on the ranch.