“Never forget why you’re here and why you’re doing what you’re doing.”

Through navigating different seasons and the ups and downs of life, Dr. Rebekah Hartfield has made a point of never forgetting why she started.

A native of Bridgeport, Texas, Hartfield developed a passion and appreciation for animals at an early age, even choosing to be homeschooled so she could spend more time riding and showing her horses. From the beginning, her purpose was clear: to care for animals and serve others.

Today, as a successful veterinarian, business owner and recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Oklahoma State University, that same purpose continues to guide her work.

Although her calling had always lived deep within her, Hartfield is the first to admit that the path to fulfilling it has been anything but linear. After enrolling at North Central Texas College in Gainesville, Hartfield did some self-reflection, eventually realizing that schoolwork and classroom walls were not what filled her cup; horses were. She took a giant leap of faith, withdrew from her courses, and traveled west to spend the summer working on a dude ranch in Colorado.

Hartfield credits this step of her journey with building grit, but above all, it reminded her of the goals she set for herself as a young girl. She knew she was being called to do so much more than stay in her comfort zone. After returning home, she went back to school to earn an associate degree in equine science and veterinary assisting. At the time, she felt content working with animals and living a simple life — until a chance interaction at a clinic reminded her of her original dream of becoming a veterinarian.

“When interviewing for vet school and getting asked the question of why I wanted to be a veterinarian, I remember sharing this story,” Hartfield said. “I was sweeping and mopping at the clinic, and one of my peers was sitting there on her phone, and I said to myself, ‘I want to be your boss.’”

To do that, she knew she needed to become a veterinarian.

Her husband, Preston, also offered encouragement and reinforced the idea of going to veterinary school. Laughing it off at first and questioning if her small-town roots would take her that far, she remembered that it was not her decision to make. She said God had placed this calling in her heart, and it was her duty to listen.

“After a few rough biochemistry exams and challenging courses at Texas A&M University, I wondered if my goals were even within reach,” Hartfield said.

Yet, it was her unwavering discipline and steadfast faith that ultimately earned her a place at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Though reaching this milestone had been far from easy, Hartfield understood that the true test was only beginning.

“Vet school was really tough for me,” Hartfield said. “I worked extremely hard just to be able to pass.”

She said she believes the greatest achievements are rarely the easiest. Along the way, she faced setbacks, including failing the licensing exam on her first attempt. Through patience, perseverance, and prayer, she overcame the obstacles and ultimately earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

During her time in Stillwater, Hartfield gained hands-on experience working with veterinarians in surrounding communities, including one of her most influential mentors, Dr. Theresa McKinzie of Chandler, Oklahoma.

“Dr. McKinzie let me take on so much hands-on experience that by the time I graduated, I could show up confident and ready to get to work on my first day,” Hartfield said.

Throughout her time at the OSU CVM, Hartfield was influenced by many professors, but one experience stood out above the rest. She credits Dr. Lionel Dawson’s bovine c-section lab with giving her practical, clinic-ready skills she carried into her career.

Hartfield carries forward the example set by Dawson and McKinzie, demonstrating her commitment to training the next generation of veterinarians. She offers volunteer and shadowing opportunities, hires veterinary students, and mentors them in the skills needed to manage and operate multiple clinics effectively.

She is the proud owner of Holdenville Veterinary Clinic; Hartfield Veterinary Clinic Urgent Care in Mannford, Oklahoma; and, most recently, Lake Area Veterinary Clinic in Cleveland, Oklahoma. Across these three locations, she eagerly provides opportunities for OSU CVM graduates, helping launch the careers of the next generation of veterinarians.

Alongside raising her five-and-a-half-year-old “little cowboy,” Hartfield has found a unique way to inspire future veterinarians through her children’s book series. The books introduce young readers to animal health and care, instill lessons in responsibility, and celebrate the joys and rhythms of rural life.

“My books reflect everything I believe in: hard work, faith, compassion, and never giving up on the dream God places in your heart,” Hartfield said. “I may not have been the smartest student or the best test-taker, but I was a fighter.”

The impact Hartfield is making on rural Oklahomans and their animals reflects the very principle that has guided her from the beginning: staying true to her purpose.

By making veterinary care more accessible and meeting people — and animals — where they are, she embodies the lesson she has carried through every twist and turn of her journey: no matter the season you’re in, never forget why you’re here and why you started in the first place.

Story By: Presley Pullen | ppullen@okstate.edu