Fifth-generation farmer wins OSU Homecoming crown
Thursday, October 26, 2017
The Cowboys were up by 25 at halftime. There was no reason to be nervous for most of the nearly 60,000 people in Boone Pickens Stadium, but Brittany Krehbiel was sweating bullets.
It was the homecoming game. It was homecoming weekend, a celebration at Oklahoma State University unlike any other across the country. Stillwater more than doubles in size for America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration as alumni flood the streets for Walkaround, the Sea of Orange Parade, tailgating, awards ceremonies and catching up with long-lost Cowboys from years past. It all culminates with a football game on Saturday.
Krehbiel found herself in the middle of the field during halftime festivities as a finalist to be crowned 2017 OSU Homecoming Queen. Her nerves subsided as she heard her name called over the speakers, followed by applause and appreciation for the newest member of OSU Homecoming Royalty.
“Being surrounded by exceptional people, you don’t really consider that your name will be the one called,” she said. “Hearing my name announced was truly humbling. I am honored to be chosen to represent OSU in this capacity.”
Krehbiel will graduate in December with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and a minor in farm appraising. While some soon-to-be graduates are applying for jobs and looking for what’s next in their lives, Krehbiel knows exactly where she’ll be and wouldn’t have it any other way.
“After graduation in December, I plan to return home to my family’s farm where I will take over management of daily operations,” she said. “As a fifth-generation farmer, I am excited to continue the legacy that my family before me has left, as well as leave my own mark for generations to come.”
While the Caddo County wheat producer only has a couple months left of taking classes at OSU, there is little doubt within the leadership of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources that Krehbiel will continue to leave her mark.
“Brittany Krehbiel is a remarkable leader and for that reason, I am pleased to have her serve as a member of my Dean’s Advisory Council. She is an outstanding representative of OSU and our land-grant mission,” said Tom Coon, DASNR vice president. “I know that she is eager to lead her family’s farming operation in western Oklahoma and I fully expect her to be a leading voice for Oklahoma agriculture in the 21st Century.”
Krehbiel has been a leader within the department of agricultural economics since she stepped on campus and has been involved in many ways including serving as an officer for Aggie-X, the department’s undergraduate student organization.
“I have no doubt she will be successful and will be a leader for the agricultural industry in Oklahoma,” said Mike Woods, agricultural economics department head. “She is focused and mature and reliable. Brittany is a role model I would hold up to any new OSU student wishing to be successful and make a difference in the world.”
Krehbiel is eager to get back to the wheat fields to get her hands dirty fulltime, but is excited about her yearly opportunity to come back to Stillwater.
“It’s almost as if I have a permanent excuse to come to homecoming for the rest of my life. What could be better than that?” she said. “I hope the legacy I leave as an Oklahoma State Homecoming Queen shows other little girls, just like the one I was over 15 years ago, that you can be anything you want to be – even a farmer.”