31-05-2025
Our reunion with Madison's Karina from 'Farmer Wants a Wife': What happened after filming? Are Jay and Grace still together?
Warning: Spoilers from Fox's "Farmer Wants a Wife" Season 3 ahead.
"Farmer Wants a Wife" Season 3 may be over, but we're still not over it.
We had our own reunion of sorts this week with Wisconsin finalist Karina Sabol after last week's May 22 season finale. She gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how the final episode went down for her, where she flocked to immediately after for a taste of home, and what she's been up to since filming finished last fall.
ICYMI or need a refresher: Farmer J'Marick "Jay" Woods' final two — who he said had "the most beautiful souls" — were Sabol and fellow contestant Grace Clark, a nanny from Washington.
Including Woods, there were four farmers this season, each with their own crop of daters attempting to wrangle their hearts.
The finale revealed that Woods ultimately chose Clark (the other farmers' picks can be found here).
Sad but keeping it together, Sabol told Woods she was happy that he used both logic and his heart to make the decision.
"God really does have a plan for us. So, we take it, we learn from it and move forward," she told him.
So, what's Sabol's relationship status nowadays? Do she still talk with Woods? And, are Woods and Clark still together? Here's what Sabol shared:
The season finale came days after Woods and Sabol met each others' families and had a date night.
Sabol adored Woods' family and said they gave her a lot of reassurance that there was potential with him.
Sabol and Woods did have conversations ahead of the finale about what post-show life would look like if they ended up together, Sabol said. They'd see if long distance would be possible for a while. And, with Sabol having the flexibility to sometimes work remotely, she planned to travel to Woods' Alabama hay and cattle farm for visits.
"I was kind of optimistic, but also realizing: If it's not my person, it's not my person," Sabol said. "I don't want to be someone's second choice — ever. When I'm with that person — that final person — I want them to be as giddy as I am about them."
When it was call time for the finale, Sabol was going through 'a lot of emotions.'
During the season, she said the daters wrote letters to their future partners. As she got ready, she reflected on what she was looking for in hers.
'That gave me a good head on my shoulders heading into this,' she said.
Based on the 'friendly' nature of Sabol's and Woods' relationship, as well as some logistical happenings that had to do with scheduling, Sabol said she figured she wasn't going to be Woods' pick.
'When we interact, it's very light-hearted, very giggly, we're cracking jokes left-and-forth — kind of chumming it up,' Sabol said. 'I think we often didn't have those very intimate talks.'
Some of Woods' mannerisms and how the two expressed their admiration for one another also factored into her hunch.
When Woods went with Clark, Sabol said she was slightly shocked, initially. Not because of his decision, but because of how "very valid" his reasonings were behind it.
"But, also I had felt like he had given me reassurance that that wasn't necessarily where his head was at leading up to it," she added.
Then, a sense of relief came over her.
During the filming process, there were many times contestants could question themselves, discussions they had and what people said, according to Sabol.
Having a definitive answer from Woods meant she no longer needed to question where they stood.
'Jay and I have the utmost respect for each other,' Sabol said. 'As sad as I was, I was very happy for him and Grace and I totally understand his reasoning. And, you know, all of that left me a little bit upset, but definitely excited for their future.'
Immediately after the breakup, Sabol had a very-Wisconsin request for show personnel: To go to Culver's for a Concrete Mixer — iconic. Her wish? Granted.
Only knowing Woods for around a month or so, Sabol said she never stopped protecting herself from the possibility of ending up single.
"It wasn't that I was super-heartbroken or needed time to recover, but I did take a couple months just to travel and explore what my next moves were going to be," she said.
Single. Still ready to settle down, Sabol has been back on dating apps and letting friends set her up with their friends.
She feels the show unlocked "the next level" of dating for her, helping her hone in on the characteristics that are most important in a partner and the ones that aren't necessarily deal-breakers.
What is she looking for? Someone who's:
Ready to commit. "I feel like that is the hardest thing these days," she said.
Really driven and hardworking.
Believes in love.
Prioritizes her.
Wants a more-traditional lifestyle, planning to provide for a future family.
Sees the outlook of the future.
"I am a hopeless romantic and truly believe in the motto of: What is life without love?" Sabol said, adding that she's really optimistic about the future and what's to come.
"No, they are not together," Sabol revealed.
While the former flames do occasionally talk and check in on one another, it's strictly as friends, Sabol said.
After getting to know her "incredible" castmates, Sabol was left with "a call for more" in her life.
"Not necessarily more materialistic things, but I can be doing more with my time and a way to reach a bigger community and serve people in a better way," she said.
She's still figuring out what that'll look like, but expressed how important volunteering has always been for her, whether it was with Special Olympics growing up or coaching gymnastics now.
Sabol has remained friends with several from Woods' farm, including Clark — they talk on the phone weekly — Julia and Rissa. Plus, daters Bailee, Halleh and Christine.
About 80% of the contestants reunited in Nashville for the airing of the premiere episode earlier this spring. Sabol will be visiting Bailee for her birthday in July and plans to meet up with Clark for concerts.
"Returning was almost more unsettling than anything during the show," Sabol said.
During filming, Sabol said, she knew her purpose and exactly what she was pushing through.
When she returned home to Madison, she felt like "now what?" — not yet able to talk about what she had just experienced or get back on dating apps, which could essentially spoil the show.
She threw herself into work and travel, going to Idaho; Washington D.C.; Colorado; and on weekend trips with friends. Before filming, she had just landed a promotion at Gunpowder Incorporated, where she's their new business and operations manager.
That job and her family are the reasons she's stayed in Wisconsin — she's always "felt the urge to leave."
"When I'm traveling, I meet so many different people and hear their stories and that's what I love to do," Sabol said.
Traveling is actually what Sabol was up to when she got recognized from being on the show for the first time.
She was recently getting matching necklaces with her sister at a Colorado boutique when a "FWAW" fan — who would tune in with her daughters — asked if Sabol was on the show.
"She was very obsessed with it and thought it was a great show and a great season," Sabol said. "So, that was really nice to hear."
Sabol plans to continue traveling in the coming months — to Ireland, Montana and Florida — and take advantage of summer in the Midwest, with its green grass, good temps, pools and lakes, she said.
"I am. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said, adding that she's so grateful for the friendships she's been able to build with fellow contestants and crew members.
With such a small group of people in the world who've experienced the show firsthand, she'd "never give up" those bonds.
"Once you've done one dating show, you've done enough," Sabol said.
But, if there was ever an opportunity for any other cool TV experience, she'd definitely consider it.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Farmer Wants a Wife Season 3 with Karina: Finale, life, Grace and Jay
