As the sun sets below the hills in western Nebraska, a young man rides his horse with a rein in his hand, his feet in the stirrups, and his cattle in front of him. It is a lifestyle and feeling that most would not understand, but for Grant Jones, it is the feeling of freedom.
Just outside of Stapleton, Nebraska, a village of 250 people, is the Diamond Bar Ranch where Jones was raised.
“The main driver is a cow-calf operation,” Jones said. “But there is also putting up the hay for the cattle and the equipment side of things that we manage. We also raise horses that we can sell to make money too.”
Growing up on the ranch, Jones would often follow his dad, Robert, around. Whether that would be checking cattle or helping him do chores, he was always following in his shadow, learning from him – never sitting still.
“I was not a big inside, hangout with mom kind of kid,” Jones said. “Sometimes I felt like I would hinder more than I would help him out on the ranch, but my dad was always super good about taking me with, and because of that I got to learn a lot from him.”
Learning from the Generation Before
As his father was patient with him, Jones would begin to learn more as he grew up, getting him to the place where he is today. From day-to-day riding or learning about the history of the ranch, Jones now knows how to make quick decisions on his feet and make good choices when it matters the most.
But even though the cowboy life was calling Jones to stay home, he had to soon make a difficult decision following high school graduation.
“Plan A after college is to go home,” Jones said. “But when I was in high school my principal told me that I was really good with kids, and I should consider being an ag teacher. I did not like school that much, but I realized that having a backup plan was important just in case something happened. I would at least have something else to fall back on.”
Jones followed in his parent’s’ and even grandparent’s footsteps and came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and decided to major in Animal Science. He also joined Alpha Gamma Rho just like his father did many years before him. As the current senior looks back on his last four years, the friendships made and knowledge gained, he realized the impact the university has had on him.
Jones stated that being a part of CASNR has been a great experience for him. From the relationships he’s made with classmates to the professors across campus, it has made his time at the university one to remember. Jones is thankful for this opportunity from his parents to come to the university, but being away from home hasn’t always been easy for him.
“It has been a struggle missing out when things are happening back home,” Jones said. “Especially when I know they are working in the cold, and I am sitting in a nice warm room.”
As an ag kid who grew up in the industry and it being all he has ever known, it’s not uncommon for the thought of dropping out of school to cross their mind and just go home. Instead, Jones found his motivation in his family, friends, and fraternity to get him on track and manage getting a four-year degree to bring back home with him.
“Being in college has been a great learning experience learning from others as well as teaching others,” Jones said. “My fraternity has really helped me with my scholarship and making sure my grades continue to stay up. It also just reminds me that if I can get all my work done, the sooner I’ll be able to go home.”
He also finds peace in friends who push him to better himself.
“Having friends who help and push you is more beneficial down the road,” Jones said. “Having the ranch and being successful is good, but if I do not have friends to share it with, that is a very lonely route to go down.”
He appreciates all the people he met along the way.
“I would not know half the people I do today if I had not taken the chance on the university and come here for school,” Jones said. “But because I did, I have met some of my best friends and have connections with people that are going to last a lifetime.”
But even though his time has ended in Lincoln and thanks CASNR for the things he’s learned, and friends gained, Jones looks forward to getting back on the ranch.
“I am the fourth generation on the ranch, and I do not really feel pressure because my dad did such a good job of preparing me and showing me how to do things,” Jones said. “My parents have done so much for me and gave me an opportunity to come here that I want to do this for them. Not because I have to, but because I want to go home, take over and be the next legacy.”
Key Takeaways:
- Grant Jones, a senior animal science major, knows the importance of getting home to his family operation, but he also knows making the most of his time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is just as important too.
- Jones has experienced struggles of not always making it home, but one thing that has been able to help him get through it is finding friends and organizations who push him and make him better than he was yesterday.
- Getting the schoolwork done is important, but taking time to make connections and build them with faculty and students helps along the way.
