This summer has presented its share of hurdles for Ree Drummond and her family. The beloved Food Network star of The Pioneer Woman recently shared insights into the demanding season her husband, Ladd Drummond, has experienced on their Oklahoma ranch.
In a heartfelt blog post on her Pioneer Woman website, Ree detailed the relentless nature of ranch work and its impact on Ladd. “Ladd has had…a busy, slightly rough summer,” she wrote. “I think I say this ever [sic] year, but the work, the early mornings, the unrelenting grind, the exhaustion…it has been a little much.” Ree humorously noted that these were her observations, as Ladd himself would simply attribute it to the demands of his profession and way of life.
The sheer intensity of the work this summer led Ree to contemplate the sustainability of their current pace. “A couple of weeks ago, after watching him limp inside, covered in dust and blood after a particularly long day, I actually said the words, ‘I don’t think we can do this anymore.’ It was partly in jest, but also maybe a little bit not,” she admitted, highlighting the physical toll the ranch work was taking on Ladd. Ree’s concerns extended to Ladd’s overall well-being, as she internally questioned, “How much harder can you work, how much longer can you do this, are you okay, is what I was really thinking.”
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Ree and Ladd Drummond. Ree Drummond/Instagram
Despite these challenges, the Drummond family found moments of joy and celebration. Ree’s blog post, primarily intended as a recap of her daughter Paige’s surprise engagement, emphasized how these happy occasions provide solace and perspective amidst life’s difficulties. She reflected on how witnessing Ladd “smiling and walking around and enjoying the celebration of his second child and the man she’s gonna marry…well, it made me feel a little better about things. 😂” Ree also added a hopeful note about the changing seasons, stating, “And summer will be over soon!”
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Ree and Ladd Drummond. Ree Drummond/Instagram
Paige Drummond, 24, became engaged to her boyfriend, David Andersen, on August 4th, after a year of dating. The engagement brought back memories of the last Drummond family wedding, that of older daughter Alex. During Alex’s wedding preparations, Ladd had a serious accident, a truck collision with his nephew Caleb while responding to a fire on their property. This incident resulted in Ladd breaking his neck in two places, requiring him to wear a neck brace at Alex’s wedding.
Currently, Ladd benefits from Paige’s assistance on the ranch. Paige returned home and began working full-time on the ranch in January. Ree mentioned in a June interview with PEOPLE the positive impact of having Paige back, saying, “It’s really great to have her home.” Paige resides in town, in the former home of Ree’s in-laws, Chuck (Pa-Pa, who passed away in 2022) and Nan (who passed away in 2018).
Ree clarified that Paige’s return to the ranch might not be permanent. “In terms of how long she’ll stay or whether it’ll be a period of her life or forever, we’re not really trying to predict or think about it too far in advance,” Ree explained. “I love that she’s here. She’s the first of our kids to really come back and work on the ranch full time.”
In a May blog post, Ree described Paige’s hands-on involvement in ranch work, noting she was “getting banged up, scratched, bruised, and clobbered.” Despite the demanding nature of the work, Ree emphasized Paige’s resilience and capability in her PEOPLE interview. “She’s very strong, not just physically, but she’s got a pretty strong heart and personality, so it’s fun to watch her kind of jump in and learn the ropes — not as Ladd’s kid, but as one of the cowboys basically. Cowgirls, I should say,” Ree remarked with a laugh, underscoring Paige’s integration into the ranch workforce and the family’s shared commitment to their ranching lifestyle.
