Cowboys Make a Difference: OSU and Okmulgee Main Street Join Forces for Community Revitalization

Over the weekend, Oklahoma State University (OSU)’s new service project, State of Orange: A Day of Cowboy Service, was showcased in Okmulgee. Led by OSU President Kayse Shrum, more than 3,000 participants at over 350 event locations across the nation demonstrated how OSU’s land-grant mission and Cowboy Code extend beyond the classroom into the community.

In Okmulgee, OSU Institute of Technology (OSUIT) collaborated with Okmulgee Main Street to revitalize the downtown area. The group focused on three specific projects to breathe new life into the heart of the town. More than 45 volunteers worked diligently weeding, planting colorful flowers, and relocating the beloved ‘umbrella alley’ to a new spot closer to the town square.

The partnership between OSUIT and Okmulgee Main Street felt like a natural fit for Kamie Crawford, director of Student Life at OSUIT and president of the Okmulgee Main Street board. She expressed that it allowed OSUIT to contribute to the community while supporting Main Street’s efforts to enhance the downtown area.

On Saturday, volunteers from various local organizations, including First Family Federal Credit Union, Main Street board members, and the local Boy Scouts, joined OSUIT and Okmulgee Main Street to work on the projects. One volunteer, Rusty Milroy, noted that working together towards a common goal is what makes this effort successful. He said “It’s amazing what happens when many hands work together.” The collaborative effort resulted in a beautiful transformation of the downtown area in Okmulgee.