Here’s Josh, our longtime cowboy, with our oldest daughter the other morning. He’s known her since she was a wrinkled, fussy baby and has witnessed her transition from timid, fretful little girl to capable, confident ranch kid. At the age of ten, she’s truly become one of the "real cowboys" of our operation, lending her riding skills to large cattle gatherings like this one the other day.
As I watched Josh and my girl through the lens of my camera, I realized how lucky she is (and we are) to have a steady, constant cowboy in the picture. Through the years, Josh has always been present as an employee, an older brother, an uncle. But recently, he’s also taken on the role of supporter and friend, always there to cheer her on and tell her everything she’s doing right—and how much she’s appreciated.
More importantly, Josh treats her with respect. He talks to her like she’s a peer—not a puny, punky child. Oh, he’ll help her if she drops her reins and will offer gentle instruction if she asks, but most of the time, he regards her in the same way he would any of his co-workers. And since I’m usually caught up in the business of running my household and can’t always take the time to address each of my children separately, she often gets lumped into the same group as her younger siblings: "You guys pick up the upstairs!" "Who poured honey in the bathtub?" ""You kids run along, now!" At home, she’s still one of the punks.
I’m just glad Josh is around to remind her that more than anything else, she’s also a cowgirl.
Ree Drummond is the founder of The Pioneer Woman and a lover of butter, basset hounds and life on the ranch! Ree started her blog in 2006, and now millions visit ThePioneerWoman.com every month for her trusted recipes and fun family stories. Here’s what she has been up to since it all began:
New York Times Bestselling Author
Ree has written two memoirs (Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, and Frontier Follies) plus nine bestselling cookbooks:
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl (2009)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier (2012)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays (2013)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime (2015)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It! (2017)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The New Frontier (2019)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy (2021)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinner’s Ready! (2023)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: The Essential Recipes (2025)
Food Network Host
Since 2011, Ree has been sharing simple, family-friendly recipes—and the occasional kitchen prank!—on her award-winning show The Pioneer Woman, filmed right on Drummond Ranch. Ree is also a regular judge on Food Network competitions, including Christmas Cookie Challenge.
Founder, The Pioneer Woman Collection
Ree has been creating and selling kitchen and home products at Walmart since 2015 and she’s involved in designing every piece and pattern. The line now includes best-selling appliances (you have to see the floral blender!), plus hundreds of pieces of cookware, tableware, and more. Ree doesn’t like to play favorites but the Agatha print has a special place in her heart.
Restaurant and Hotel Owner
Together with her husband Ladd, Ree has opened several bustling businesses in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, including The Pioneer Woman Mercantile—a bakery, restaurant, and general store that draws visitors from across the country (many come for the biscuits alone!), P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Ice Cream Shop, and The Boarding House, a charming hotel with eight different rooms decorated by Ree and Ladd.
Media Personality
Ree appears regularly on national TV shows like Today, Good Morning America and more—all while managing to keep flour off her shirt.
Wife, Mom and…Grandma!
Ree’s kids (daughters Alex and Paige and sons Bryce and Todd) are all grown up, and as of December 2024, Ree is the proud grandma of the cutest baby ever, Sofia Scott, born to Alex and her husband Mauricio. Ree still cooks for Ladd (and the kids when they’re home), and she also looks after a few mischievous ranch dogs.
