Tens Across the Board

As of August 10, I have been part of the Oklahoma Today staff for ten years. Rather than write a maudlin ode to the people who’ve become closer to me than some of my actual family members—they know how I feel (the staff, probably not my family)—I’ve decided to create a run down of some of the greatest, weirdest, stupidest, and otherwise most memorable moments during my decade at the magazine. Here they are, in no particular order.

As an animal lover, both September/October 2017 and September/October 2019 are two of my favorite issues ever. Writing a feature, an essay, and helming the pet contest for last year’s edition was one of the most challenging times of my tenure. I cried probably thirty-seven times—particularly writing about my childhood dog, Trouble—but when it was all over, I really felt like we had done something good for the animals of Oklahoma.

Art by Megan Rossman

“There’s a bird in my neighborhood that sounds like it’s screaming ROBERTO.” – Megan Rossman said this one morning, and I will never forget it as long as I live.

At the 2018 Society of Professional Journalists awards, Lori Duckworth and I took home best illustration for a scissortail flycatcher we made out of bird seed (“Tweet Eats,” September/October 2017). It turned out really cool, but it feels so strange to be honored by journalists for a craft project.

Karlie and Lori's award-winning scissortail flycatcher illustration

For the September/October 2017 issue, I wrote about Endangered Ark, an elephant sanctuary in Hugo (“Of Trunk and Triumph”). Leighona Bernstein—our editorial assistant at the time—and I traveled down on a Friday, stayed the night at ght at [Beavers Bend State Parken got to meet and feed elephants the next morning. I’ve had some amazing opportunities over the years, but this might be one of the coolest.

Editor-in-Chief Nathan Gunter's famed "great-grandma face"

Nathan has been doing this for as long as I remember, and it never fails to make me laugh.

People who help animals are my heroes, and as the founder of Wildcare in Noble, Rondi has been a hero to literally countless wild creatures in need of rehabilitation. I interviewed her for the November/December 2014 issue (“Nature and Nurture,)” but there is one part of our interview I’ll never forget. I asked her why she saves these animals that many would consider pests: skunks, opossums, racoons, and the like. “We don’t get choose who matters, who’s worth saving and who’s not,” she said.

Clockwise from bottom left, Karlie Ybarra, Sara Cowan, Nathan Gunter, Megan Rossman, and Leighona Bernstein, with art director Steve Walker's visage looming in the background

JUST LOOK AT IT. We are so dumb sometimes, but boy do we have fun.

I started with July/August 2010. My first assignment was factchecking a story about Chickasaw composer Jared Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (“Keeping Score”). Spelling names correctly is arguably one of the most important tenants of factchecking, so it was a great place to start.

When we go on deadline, we spend about three weeks at our art director Steven Walker’s Midtown office. It’s a blur of raucous conversation, delicious treats (homemade or purchased from our favorite nearby spots like Brown’s and Pie Junkie), and hard work. Somehow, at the end of every deadline, we end up with an issue that we can be proud of. The creative process can be a real rollercoaster of emotion—I’ve cried, screamed, and laughed until my sides hurt for both good and bad reasons at Steve’s. But once the next issue cycle rolls around, I’m always excited to go back.

I have no idea how long I’ll stay at Oklahoma Today. I’m very happy here, but life happens, and who knows what’s waiting for me in the years to come. But however long I get to work here, I know that every issue will bring new challenges to overcome, fascinating stories to tell, and animals to meet and put off with my “PLEASE LOVE ME!!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!” energy.

Written By

Karlie Ybarra

Managing editor Karlie Ybarra loves to explore her home state—and meet many of its animal citizens—any chance she gets.