Sponsor Spotlight - Nevada Mining Association

As a mining engineer, I am blessed to have a career in a state like Nevada and living in the capital of Nevada’s gold belt, ELKO! Nevada has a long history as a leading mineral-producing state. Since the gold and silver rush in the 1850s, which inspired Nevada's statehood in 1864, to the present, Nevada has been a hotbed for mineral and metal mining. There’s great importance to the mining industry for the Silver State’s economic and social infrastructure and it continues to produce the necessary minerals on which our society depends. Nevada is one of the special geologic places on the globe where wide arrays of minerals are prevalent, such as gold, silver, copper, barite, molybdenum, clay, silica, lithium, as well as the state’s abundance of geothermal heat which is mined for energy. More than 11,000 people are directly employed by the Nevada mining industry. The Nevada Mining Association has existed for more than 100 years - first established in 1912 as the Nevada Mine Operators Association and changed to the Nevada Mining Association in 1952. NvMA is able to extract the common needs of its many disparate member companies and speaks with one voice for the gold miners in Elko, the geothermal well drillers in the rural valleys, the parts distributors in Las Vegas, the geological engineers in Reno and the 60,000 other Nevadans who rely everyday on this vital industry.

Nevada Mining Association, thank you for being a sponsor to me towards my journey to the Miss Nevada USA stage. I really appreciate your generous contribution.

Sponsor Spotlight - AM Engineering

When I went to Virginia Tech, my intention was to major in civil engineering because I thought it was the most versatile engineering field. Although God redirected my steps to mining engineering, which I grew to love, I'm very thankful for the civil engineering classes I took prior to switching my major. I believe they were a good foundation for me in general as an engineer - it helps broaden my critical thinking and how I approach problem-solving. A.M. Engineering is a Nevada-grown Civil Engineering Firm operating in all rural and urban areas throughout Nevada and the western United States. Headed by Owner/Operator (CEO) Aaron Martinez, P.E. - lifelong Nevadan who graduated from Elko High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada. A.M. Engineering specializes in Design – Build Engineering services, with an extensive line of experience assisting clients through all stages of their project. Their civil engineering services include: Streets & Highways, Residential & Commercial Development, Airports, Feasibility Studies, Hydrological & Hydraulic Analysis, Preliminary Engineering Reports, Erosion Control & Water Quality BMPs, Water Distribution and Treatment System Designs, etc. Located in the Blohm building on 5th street, A.M. Engineering also offers construction services and 3D laser scanning. Visit AM Engineering for a full list of their services.

AM Engineering, thank you for being a sponsor to me towards my journey to the Miss Nevada USA stage. I really appreciate your generous contribution.

Elko for Miss Nevada USA 2018 - Official Headshot

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I am doing great, thanks be to God. The Miss Nevada USA website has been updated and headshots for the 2018 Miss and Teen contestants have been posted. Thanks to Kelly Belmonte of KBMakeup and Naked Las Vegas for doing amazing makeup on me and Chezaray Photography for perfectly capturing the confidently beautiful that I am for my headshot. Go check out the website and see the beauties vying to represent the Silver State at Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2018 pageants. Remember to purchase your tickets to the preliminary and finals shows on the venue's website. I'll see you on January 7th!

Hard Hats and High Heels:
ELKO for Miss Nevada USA 2018

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 

Esther 4:14b

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste any more time and receive salvation now.

Sponsor Spotlight - Practical Mining

Elko is known as the capital of Nevada's goldbelt - the city's economy is based heavily on gold mining, with ranching and tourism providing additional jobs. As a mining engineer living and working in Elko, I find it to be a great place to interact and learn from so many professionals working in and for the industry. Located on Idaho Street in the Blohm building, Practical Mining LLC offers engineering services to the mines such as Reserves SEC Section 7 and NI 43-101, mine planning, underground mine design, cost estimates, backfill plant design, etc. Mark Odell P.E. is the sole owner-operator of Practical Mining with 25 years experience in managerial, operational and technical capacities in many types of underground and open pit mining environments. Educated at Colorado School of Mines with a BS in Mining Engineering, Odell is also a Registered Professional Engineer, State of Nevada, No. 13708, as well as a registered member in the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME).

Practical Mining LLC, thank you for being a sponsor to me towards my journey to the Miss Nevada USA stage. I really appreciate your generous contribution.

October 2017 - Life in a Suitcase

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I have been happy and so thankful to God for everlasting love and unfailing kindness. The past few months have been really busy for me and I haven't been very diligent in blogging. The month of October was especially busy with traveling for me for work and was able to visit 2 states I had never been to before: Colorado and Washington. In that month, I was in 4 states during the 5 weeks of October.

Minerals Administration Training Week in Boise, Idaho

Less than a week after being in Boise, I had a busy and awesome time in Lakewood/Golden for the annual gathering of the national minerals and geology management group. It was my first time in Colorado - if layovers at Denver airport don't count. Although I didn't get much time to explore on my own time, one of my Minerals and Geology Management team members set up a field trip for us to Dinosaur Ridge.

Dinosaur Ridge is a segment of the Dakota Hogback in the Morrison Fossil Area National Natural Landmark located near the town of Morrison and just west of Denver. The Dinosaur Ridge area is one of the world's most famous dinosaur fossil localities.

In 1877, some of the best-known dinosaurs were found here, including Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Diplodocus, and Allosaurus. The site features the Dinosaur Ridge Exhibit Hall with displays about the dinosaurs found at the site.

Additionally, Dinosaur Ridge has interpretive signs at trail locations that explain the local geology, a volcanic ash bed, trace fossils, paleo-ecology, economic development of coal, oil and clay, and many other geologic and paleontological features.

Post-Church Photo in Seattle, Washington

Although I was in Seattle for the geology conference and missed my home church in Elko that Sunday, I was thankful that I could gather with God's beloved and worship our good, good Father a Church close to my hotel. What's super awesome is that this Church was also on a series about the 5 solas just like Living Stones - message was Sola Fide (faith alone). By being in Washington state, I officially made it all the way to the top of Pacific Northwest!

After attending Church, I went to Day 1 at the annual Geological Society of America's Meeting and Exposition. There were so many great presentations. This mining engineer went intentions to broaden her knowledge on geology, hydrogeology, soils, minerals, etc.‬ at GSA 2017, held at the Washington State Convention Center.

Day 2 at GSA2017 - I saw several current and alumni Hokies present the past couple days. On the second day I made it a priority to check out the Tech booth. As a mining engineering student, I took some classes in the geoscience department. Ph.D candidate Sebastian gave a great presentation this morning on his research "The Solubility and Structure of Amorphous Calcium Carbonate(s) (ACC): Toward an Understanding of Chemical and Structural Evolution during Mineralization.‬"

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 

Ephesians 3:12

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste any more time and receive salvation now.

From Pit to Pageant - Mining Engineer to Run for Miss Nevada USA

Mining engineer and wildland firefighter Ruby B. Johnson wants to add another title to her résumé: Miss Nevada USA. Representing northeastern Nevada as Miss Elko County, Johnson plans to compete for the designation at the Miss Nevada USA pageant in Las Vegas on Jan. 7. “It’s very unconventional to have a mining engineer in a pageant,” Johnson said. A win in the Nevada contest would mean competing for Miss USA and possibly Miss Universe. The last time a Nevadan won the Miss USA crown was 2014, but no Nevada winner has won the top title in the program’s 66-year history.

“I feel it is time for the Battle Born State,” Johnson said. Nevada winners are rare, as are contestants from outside of the Las Vegas area. Johnson said she hopes to change that while shining a spotlight on the state’s mining industry and women in engineering. “It’s a wonderful mining state,” she said, “and it’s a wonderful place to be a mining engineer.”

Read the full article on Elko Daily Free Press

Ruby B. Johnson: Miss Nevada USA 2018 Contestant and Mining Engineer

Not only is Ruby a mining engineer for the US Forest Service, but she is also gearing up to compete as Miss Elko USA in the Miss Nevada USA pageant in January, with goals of being Miss USA and then Miss Universe! Yeah, I would be exhausted with all of that going on too! Nonetheless, Ruby still made the time to share a little bit about how she came to be Elko’s very own Wonder Woman...Ruby is excited to honor the name of our town because she has a genuine love for our area. “I love living in a state that’s mining friendly...I love being a part of a field that does well for the community. And one of the things I have so much joy about is Elko’s feel for community. Whether it’s my co-workers, my friends or through my local church, my faith is very important to me, the hospitality of Elko is really wonderful...I would like it to be! I see no reason to leave unless God tells me I’m outta here! But for now, I’m loving it.”

Read the full article on Anthony Around Town

Nevada - The Battle Born State

ANNOUNCEMENT - Miss Nevada USA 2018 Finalist

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I have been busy with work and traveling for trainings, and I'm thankful for God's blessings. So I have an announcement for all of you - I have been selected to be a finalist for Miss Nevada USA 2018 pageant. The Silver State has been so instrumental in helpful me grow in my career as a mining engineer as well as becoming a wildland firefighter over the past year and I'm honored to represent the capital of Nevada's gold belt as Miss Elko USA.

Miss Elko USA 2018
Miss Nevada USA Finalist

I'm looking forward to getting to know and work with Nevada's pageant gem, Shanna Moakler and her team and the sponsors, who have produced phenomenal women for Miss USA​ to represent the Battle Born state. After seeing how Nevadans came out in large numbers to show support for the victims and their loved ones after last week's tragic incident in Las Vegas, I'd be honored to represent this great state. I'm excited about this journey and to continue to do my part in advocating for the importance of mentoring the youth, women in STEM fields, empowering girls and women through When You Believe Foundation, Inc.​ and Body Confident, Beautiful Me​, as well as supporting the various initiatives Miss Nevada USA and Miss Universe​ organization champions. To live out my passion for service and excellence on a larger scale. Nevada's representative for Miss USA 2018 will be crowned on January 7th at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa​ in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for ticket details. 

I am preparing for this new crazy yet exciting adventure and I'll like you to join me in my journey on the #RoadtoMissNevadaUSA via social media and this blog. I am a confidently beautiful Sierra Leone-born, USA-raised woman who is taking a chance at living out an American dream and to serve as well as represent a state I have fallen in love with at the Miss USA stage. Please keep me in your prayers, everyone.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14b

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste any more time and receive salvation now.

My 1-Year ElkoVersary

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I am doing awesome, to God be the glory. A year ago on this day, I got in a plane from Maryland and moved to a small town in northeast Nevada called Elko, after accepting a job position. With God's grace, I have had an amazing year in my career and growing as a mining engineer and God has blessed me with amazing people in this town and beyond - through friendships, work, church, and community. During this year, I started gardening, became a wildland firefighter and resource advisor, ran my first relay, went ice fishing, serving as a leader in my church's kids and teens ministries as well as worship ministry, volunteered and attended Elko's Cowboy Poetry Gathering as well as the Annual Mine Expo, attended the Ruby Mountain Balloon festival, basque festival, and Elko County Fair. I have learned that there's more to Nevada than Las Vegas, and of course hike my namesake mountain range - Ruby Mountains - and so much more! Elko has been so good to me and I am happy to call it home.

My coworker, supervisor, and mentor

Attending Horizon Hospice's 11th Annual "Community Souper Bowl" in April. This annual fundraiser features endless servings of donated soups served, along with artist-created bowls. I believe I had about 15 different types of soups and they were delicious! Horizon Hospice is a non-profit, all-volunteer hospice providing a team of specially trained volunteers on call 24-hours a day. Horizon Hospice can provide pain medications, equipment and supplies, instructions in caregiving to help loved ones care for the patient, respite services, comfort care therapies such as music, art and essential oils, and bereavement support for surviving family members. The organization also operates Horizon Center, offering peer grief support groups for children, teens and adults. Hearing the story of folks that have been blessed with their services as well as the work the people of the Hospice does. It makes me so proud to be part of the community in this little ol' town of Elko which I call home.

Being prayed over by my coverings at the church God has planted me in in Elko. I am blessed to be part of Living Stones. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-16‬

Sometime in May I got to speak to some Cub Scouts at the Spring Creek Fire Station for their den meeting. Each week, the group has someone present on a certain career and the boys do a project on the career or speciality, part of their Webelos handbook. My co-worker, who's a firefighter, asked me to come and talk about what an engineer does as well as what exactly is a mining engineer. Being that Elko is a mining town, these kids know what mining is and have family members and/or neighbors working in the mines. My goal was to take them into the life of a mining engineer as well as the stages of mining and it's relevance in everyday life. The boys (and their dads/grandpa) had so many great questions and were really engaged throughout the presentation, which made it all the way enjoyable for me! It was pretty cool to have one of the sisters of a Cub Scout join us, little Miss Bella, and she was so into it too like the boys! I'm all about getting them when they're young, so hopefully I may have convinced a 9/10-year-old to become a mining engineer when he grows up as well as show Bella that girls can be engineers too and get to play with explosives!

LS Kids - Purple Room

July 4th at the Spring Creek Parade

Hiking Talbott Trail at the Ruby Mountains

Picking out weeds in my garden

Elko County Fair

Community Group - LS Teens High School Girls

Nevada Mining Association 2017 Convention in South Lake Tahoe

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 

2 Corinthians 1:20-22

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste any more time and receive salvation now.

Nevada Mining Association 2017 Convention

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I have been doing well, to God be the glory. It was Nevada Mining Association's 2017 Convention week and excited to have seen familiar faces and network with a lot of people in the Nevada mining industry. It was also my first time coming to South Lake Tahoe, which is absolutely beautiful! This mining engineer is totally fine with switching her steel-toe boots to heels and dress up for occasions like this!

Dana Bennett, President of Nevada Mining Association

I had a wonderful time at my first NvMA convention - saw some great presentations, updates on Nevada mining industry and its effects on the state, networked, and applauded for the recipients of this year's Safety Awards in operations and reclamation. It was a great way to spend my birthday weekend.

Click Photo to Enlarge

It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 

Deuteronomy 13:4

God bless you.

Jesus loves you.

Restored woman living for God's Glory,

Ruby B. Johnson.

Have you given your heart to God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior? If you die today, will you make it to Heaven? If no or you are unsure, do not waste any more time and receive salvation now.