Ferguson College of Agriculture

Get to Know Courtenay!

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

“I grew up on a small cow-calf operation in northeastern Kansas. Showing Angus heifers and competing in high school rodeo was how I spent most of my days before heading to Oklahoma State. I chose Oklahoma State because I wanted to compete in college rodeo, but I also wanted a top-tier education.  OSU provided the best of both worlds. I competed in the breakaway, barrel racing, and goat tying for the Oklahoma State Rodeo Team in addition to obtaining my degree in agricultural communications. My freshman year I interned for Oklahoma Horizon, a weekly television news program, and it was there I fell in love with broadcast journalism. I continued to work at Oklahoma Horizon while I earned my degree, and I’ve now been working in television and entertainment for over 10 years.

 

“I’m currently based in Dallas, Texas, and my job continues to take me around the world. I’ve hosted live broadcasts inside arenas like Madison Square Garden and walked red carpets with household names. No two days are alike in my line of work. Through my television career, I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as a keynote speaker for various universities and agriculture groups like National FFA. Last year, I launched a global brand movement called Fancy Lady Cowgirl which celebrates those who uphold the cowgirl spirit in unique and unexpected ways. The brand movement proves that it’s not how you look or where you live that makes you cowgirl.”

 

What is your favorite part of your job?

“Telling stories has always been my favorite part of the job. There are so many everyday people who have incredible stories to tell, and I’m forever honored that I get to help tell them. I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people tick, and I think the more stories we share the more we’ll realize we’re really not all that different. I may have several different job titles, but storytelling is at the core of everything I do.”

 

How has your agricultural communications degree served you in your career?

“My professors at Oklahoma State really helped mold the natural talent I had into something great. It wasn’t the degree that set me up for success, it was the people that truly allowed me to excel. I was a bit of an oddball in that I probably should have pursued a broadcast journalism degree outside of the college of ag, but I knew in order to be my best future self, I needed to stay with my great agricultural communications professors. My degree showed me that you can truly be anything, and I used the skills I learned every single day. For me, it was always about the people. Oklahoma State is a special place, but the college of agriculture at Oklahoma State is truly one of a kind.”