OKLAHOMA CITY (April 25, 2025) -- Attorney General Gentner Drummond is responding to recent comments by Gov. Stitt that denigrate Oklahoma farmers and ranchers by suggesting they are unqualified to serve as capable regents for Oklahoma State University. Drummond said he plans to conduct a rigorous review of current OSU Regents to ensure the Governor is properly following the state law that he recently said is a "problem that needs to be fixed."
"Gov. Stitt's comments disparaging Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are a slap in the face to every agriculture producer in the state," Drummond said. "The current requirements for Oklahoma State's Board of Regents are sound and reasonable. There are tens of thousands of Oklahomans who qualify under the law, and OSU is strengthened by the leadership of farmers and ranchers who serve on the Board."
As a fifth-generation rancher, Drummond said the Governor's comments reflect an "elitist" perspective that he finds offensive.
"When the Governor is complaining about having to appoint farmers and ranchers to oversee the university that was born from agriculture, he is saying that our agriculture producers aren't good enough," Drummond said. "It is an elitist perspective that I find offensive. My family has been in farming and ranching for generations, and I know many families across the state who can say the same. There are thousands more I don't know personally, but I do know they would be well-qualified to serve on OSU's Board of Regents."
Drummond said the Governor's remarks have prompted him to begin a thorough review of the current OSU Board members to ensure the Governor is complying with state law.
"I have noticed that the Governor doesn't have a great deal of respect for the rule of law when it is a law with which he disagrees," Drummond said. "If he is saying it is a problem that the law requires him to appoint a majority of farmers and ranchers to the OSU Board of Regents, then I'm concerned he has tried to skirt that requirement. I will conduct a rigorous review to determine whether state law is being properly followed, and to ensure Oklahoma agriculture producers are, in fact, a majority of the Board."
