We weaned 700 (give or take) calves from their mamas yesterday. Going into the fall/winter, we have to wean the larger calves(most of them were born around last March) because the grass can no longer provide the nutrients necessary to nourish the mamas if they have a large calf sucking their milk. Also, most of the mamas are already pregnant with another calf by now, so going into the winter, she’ll need all the nutrition she can get. Weaning the calf now ensures that the mama will remain strong and healthy through the winter, and will allow us to turn these larger calves into yearlings.
We had to gather five pastures of cattle and drive them, in some cases, up to 2 1/2 miles, which was no fun in 35-mph sustained winds.
“I just hate 35-mph sustained winds.”
Once we gather a pasture, we sort off the pairs (mamas with smaller calves) we want to leave alone. The little ones aren’t ready to be weaned yet.
Here’s Cowboy Tim. He’ll show us how it’s done.
See that mama with her baby? He’s getting them to separate from the rest of the herd.
And here’s Ali. She helps us sometimes.
Go, Ali, go!
*The preceding Gratuitous Cowgirl Action Shots were brought to you by Pioneer Woman, mother of two daughters.
Now, usually, it’s obvious which mamas go with which babies; the baby is usually sucking wildly at the teet okay, teat, or walking right next to the mama. But sometimes, a baby will become separated from its mama in the herd and it’s difficult to know who goes with whom.
When that situation arises, someone (in this case, my strapping, virile, and capable husband, Marlboro Man) ropes the calf and gently guides it out from the herd. The calf will immediately begin bawling, which almost always causes its mama to come running. See? Within about ten seconds, the mama showed up. I just love watching that strong mothering instinct in action. It almost makes me lactate. (And don’t worry—the calf isn’t choking; it’s crying.)
As soon as the mama and the baby match (“mammie”) up, My Pesky Brother-in-Law, Tim, rides over to remove the rope from the baby.
Outside the frame of the camera, that mama is watching intently, ready to send Tim flying if he makes a wrong move. (And boy, was I ready to take THAT photo.)
“Mama! I went pee pee.” I’m sorry. But there are just so many human parallels here.
Behold, My Pesky Brother-in-Law, Tim. Freer of All Roped Calves. Hmmm… Freer of Calves. Has a nice ring to it. I think it’ll be the new Dances With Wolves. I see blockbuster written all over it.
Hey, Tim? Tim? Where ya goin’?
He never has liked the spotlight much.
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.
