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.

Miss Nevada USA 2018 Orientation

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I hope you and yours are doing well. I have been busy but happy, thanks be to God. This past Sunday was Contestant Orientation Day for Miss Nevada USA 2018 Pageant, held at the Henderson location of Life Time Vegas. I got to meet some of the Miss and Teen contestants as well as hear from our reigning Miss Nevada Teen USA Alexis Smith and State Director, Shanna Moakler. After hearing more about pageant weekend from Shanna, I'm more excited now for pageant weekend and to represent Elko.

After the session with Shanna, we had an hour of Barre class. Our instructor, Ann-Marie, kicked our butts and I was nervous about the body soreness in my near future during the long drive back to Elko the following. However, my consistency in working out and living a healthier life paid off and I felt nothing the following day. But during the class...YIKES! In the midst of kicking our butts, I loved the empowering things she was saying to us - her students at UNLV are blessed to have a professor like her. Thanks to my friend and makeup artist, Kelly Belmonte, for getting me glammed for the day.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:8-9

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

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.

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.

The Gospel: What It Means To Me

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I am doing awesome, thanks be to God. I recently started serving at the Church I have been attending since the beginning of this year - children's and youth ministries, as well as worship. As some of you may know from my posts later last year, I was very prayerful about being planted in a God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Holy Spirit-filled, and Bible-teaching church, as well as get to serve in ministry that God calls me to. Like many other Churches, one is encouraged to serve in ministry when you are part of the body of Christ. As an ambassador for Jesus Christ, I know the relevance of serving and my spirit highly desires this form of worship to God by being a vessel in His kingdom. In addition to receiving salvation, baptism by immesion, and attending a new membership meeting, Christians are encouraged to fill out application forms for some of the ministries at my new church (Living Stones Church - Elko). A common question in both vetting processes was: what does the gospel mean to you?

Well...To me, the Gospel is the representation of God’s love for us. The good news of Jesus is that even though I was dead in sin, He still saw value in me and thought I was worth dying for – so He did. The good news is that even though most of my life I have not acknowledged the works of God in my life, He still gave me grace and welcomed me back into His Kingdom. The good news is that I serve a sovereign God whose Son came to give me life in abundance, and I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me that guides and leads me in wisdom. The good news is that even though I fall and still struggle in my walk, God’s mercies are new every morning. The good news of Jesus is that what He has already done for me is much greater than what anyone has ever done to me or will do to me. The good news is that I don’t need to try to be perfect because He who started this good work in me will bring it to completion and He has great plans for me. The good news is that God’s ways are greater. This good news gives me peace and joy, and I am His beloved. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).

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.

Going Down Memory Reign: Being Miss Sierra Leone USA (Part III)

Hello my sisters and brothers in Christ!

I pray you and yours are doing well. I am doing well, thanks be to God! In honor of Sierra Leone's 56th Independence Day Anniversary on April 27th, I plan to share some moments of my reign as Miss Sierra Leone USA this week. On July 1, 2012, I competed in my first pageant and was blessed to have won, representing my city of birth and Sierra Leone's capital city, Freetown. My personal platform was advocating for SHERO - service, health, education, rights, and opportunities. As my reign progressed, I included advocating for the recruitment and retention of girls/women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) into my platform; since it was a personal reflection of who I was then as a girl in a STEM-related major in college. As a mining engineer now, I have continued to advocate for that platform and I'm grateful for the MSLUSA title to have given me the stage to launch a life-long platform. Below are some highlights from my 2013 Homecoming to Sierra Leone as Miss Sierra Leone USA. 

2013 Independence Day State House Awards Show

With Kelvin Doe and Millicent Rhodes

Freetown Cotton Tree

EducAid School

Lumley Hospital

Ola During Children's Hospital

Princess Christian Maternity Hospital

We Yus on SLBC TV

Octea Mining - Koidu Limited Office in Freetown

Pauline Community School

Lunch Time Break on SLBC TV

Connaught Hospital

United Methodist Health and Medical Services Hospital

2013 Youth Excellence Awards Show

Traveling to Kono District - eating kasada bred en fray fish bought at Waterloo

Trying poyo for the first time

Koidu Limited's Mining Site

During my reign as Miss Sierra Leone USA, I was an active blogger and detailed a lot of my activities and endeavors. Check out my blog. May God bless the Republic of Sierra Leone. Mama Salone, you are always in my prayers.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, SIERRA LEONE!

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 4:11-12

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.