NATALIE JONES

Class of 2019

When Natalie Jones (’19) ends her work day — writing features and managing social media and statewide news releases for CASNR and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) — 50 feet outside her door is a horse waiting for her daily pets and grain. Her love of her college was strong. So, she returned as a communications specialist in January 2020, one month after her graduation. Even so, she missed her family’s ranch in Stapleton, her little escape, her peace. She negotiated a flexible, remote role.

“I can unplug, leave my phone and go ride horses or just go be outside,” Jones said. “It’s a good balance for me. It keeps me kind of sane because communications and social media is so fast paced. I can just get back to the basics, the essence of life in a way. Walk outside in March and witness a new baby calf being born and watch it taking its first steps.”

In the early days of social media, a young Jones posted photos to document her family’s cattle and horses. She manages the accounts for Diamond Bar Ranch on Facebook and Instagram (@diamondbar1901). So, when she heard about the agricultural and environmental sciences communication major, she was sold. It also might have helped that she’s a third generation Husker. Her grandparents, the late David Lee Jones (’53) and Virginia (Baskin) Jones (’51), met at a coed horseback riding contest on East Campus. David was a Husker football player. Her parents, animal science major Robert Jones (’88) and interior design major Susanne (Staab) Jones (’93), met at the Nebraska State Fair.

“Every time we went to Lincoln, we relived these stories of how they met there,” Jones said about her parents.

Jones set the trend for her siblings — younger sister, Shaylee (’22) chose Nebraska for agribusiness; and they had two years living together on City Campus. Younger brother Grant, set to graduate in 2024, shared two years with Shaylee as an animal science major. Jones’ youngest brother Lance, who is a senior in high school and interested in agribusiness, doesn’t really have any say in the matter of his education. Of course, the Jones kids always had a choice, but in the end, it was always the University of Nebraska.

“When your values align, and your hopes and support align, it just makes for this strong bond,” Natalie Jones said. “Something to really cherish and be proud of. It means everything to our family, our Nebraska legacy; we love it and we hope it continues.”

It doesn’t take long to realize Jones is big on history and tradition — her grandma and some of her aunts had enjoyed campus Greek life. Jones joined Alpha Xi Delta house, and her sister followed suit. Jones was a self-described overachiever in high school, so in college she wanted to do everything: intramural sports, Block and Bridle club, Ag Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) club, and student government senator for CASNR, among others. As part of her beef scholars minor, she visited New Orleans for the Cattle Industry Convention, meeting cattle producers from across the United States affecting grassroots policy. The ACT club afforded her an Ohio trip to the National ACT conference. She landed a summer internship with Superior Livestock Auction in Fort Worth, Texas, and another internship with Certified

Angus Beef. Ultimately, she took those opportunities because people around her rallied for her to chase her dreams and try new things, even if, say, going to Texas seemed scary. It was inspiring to be in classrooms with go-getters.

“I look back on my time in college and think about the friends and the people that I was surrounded with, and their willingness to better themselves and be a difference maker in the world, inflicting positive change in whatever industry that they’re going to,” Jones said. “Most of the time, that was agriculture. Just wanting to revive and support and save our rural communities — that really gives me chills. So many people are giving of themselves and wanting to truly be selfless and make something better and finding creative ways to do that.”

In particular, Jones says professor emeritus Mary Garbacz (’75) encouraged her to apply for an IANR student worker position that led to her post-college job. Jones’ mentor, Cara Pesek (’03), communications director for IANR, connected her with BluePrint Media, which segued into freelance writing for Nebraska Cattlemen magazine.

“ Nebraska Cattlemen has such a great relationship with UNL and the Institute of Ag,” Jones said. “There’s so much overlap in the research that we do and a lot of leaders in the industry. That’s been a fun thing for me to keep growing my skills and writing for a different audience at times.”

And as of this past summer, if her freelancing and university job wasn’t enough, she’s back at school pursuing a master’s degree in integrated media communications through the College of Journalism and Mass Communications — all online as well. The creative writing and social media management demands tie in perfectly with her professional life. Really, the Institute of Ag is so broad, she’s learning something new and sharing her findings every day. The world is at her fingertips; she’s just thankful for a reliable internet connection out in her slice of the Sandhills.

“I can really make an impact in agriculture, in ag communications and science writing and ag literacy from anywhere,” Jones said. “You know that Nebraska saying, ‘Make waves where there is no ocean?’ I can still make an impact even when I’m not in Lincoln, just from little old Stapleton, Nebraska.”