Out of all 50 states, Oklahoma ranks 19th on the list of largest states in the nation. Of the nearly 69,000 square miles, there's someone who seemingly rules it all and it's not who you think. Get ready for a real-life Yellowstone experience in Oklahoma.

Right In Plain Sight

@thepioneerwoman Stromboli isn’t fancy, but neither are teenagers!! #cooking #teenagers #dinner #easyrecipe ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

You've seen her lining the shelves of walmart and maybe even have some of her ecclectic, floral kitchenware and home goods somewhere around. The number one largest landowner in Oklahoma is none other than "Pioneer Woman" Ree Drummond and her family, touting a massive 433,000 acres in Osage County in northeastern Oklahoma.

Not Your Usual "Hand Me Down"

@debrosland.com #ok #landforsale #investments #crazy #land #oklahoma #drummond ♬ original sound - Debrosland.com

When you initially search for the Drummond family, you'll find them as the largest ranching family in Oklahoma and the 23rd largest landowners in the nation. Wealth like this is only inherited and in this case, it is no different.

Originally, the Scottish native Frederick Drummond (1864 -1913) settled in Osage County after traveling across Texas, New York and St. Louis. While in Oklahoma, he settled down with his wife, Addie, and had six children together, "including three sons, Roy Cecil Drummond, Frederick Gentner Drummond, and Alfred Alexander "Jack" Drummond."

Throughout Fredrick's "rein," he founded the Hominy Trading Company. During the Reign of Terror in Osage County, "the Drummonds were creditors against and administrators for Osage estates," according to bloomberg.com.

"They also owned a funeral home that performed funerals for the deceased that would be paid for by the estate. Some families sold their allotments to the Drummonds to cover the costs of their debt to the Hominy Trading Company."

Bringing in business was the name of the game for Frederick until he passed away in 1913, leaving 1,200 acres to his sons.

The Family Grows, The Farm Grows

Canva
Canva
loading...

After taking over the family operation, Alexander Jack and Roy Cecil started the Drummond Cattle Co. in 1886, which eventually grew to an over 200,000-head operation that - to this day - still raises and sells beef out of Shidler, Oklahoma. The family is also paid approximately $2 million to keep burros and wild horses on the farm to support animal protection, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Throughout the years, the family has grown and they've learned to put their hands in many projects in Osage County - a decision that has drawn some criticism. In fact, a professor from Oklahoma State University (go pokes) has stated that "the Drummonds various business meant that they were pulling money from the Osage in many different ways," speaking about Jack and Cecil's endeavors for buying up 200,000 acres of land and overcharging on items and products throughout the years.

Where We Are Now

Canva/Screenshot of Pioneer Woman Website
Canva/Screenshot of Pioneer Woman Website
loading...

Four generations from the very start, the Drummond family resides as the largest land owner here in Oklahoma. Ree Drummond obviously has her hands full with one of the most successful businesses in the nation, but motherhood is still at the top of her to-do list for the 5 children she's raising. For the entire Drummond family, as they stated on their cattle ranching website, "we've been here since before Oklahoma statehood and we're not leaving anytime soon."

Restaurants Oklahomans Wish We Had in the Sooner State

All across social media, people in Oklahoma are holding nothing back talking about restaurants they wish were in and around the Sooner State. If you had one wish, which eatery would you pick?

Gallery Credit: Kelso

The Best Places to Live in Oklahoma

When it comes to living in Oklahoma, there is no shortage of opinions on where you should live. If you compare all of the different metrics--schools, cost of living, diversity, amenities, etc--you'll get a slightly different list every time... but if you compound all of them into one, you get this list. The best places to live in Oklahoma.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

More From 1073 Popcrush