What a week.
As you may have heard, Ladd and our nephew, Caleb, were in an accident on the ranch last Wednesday. They had been putting out a wildfire on the ranch (the eleventh they’ve had to fight just on our ranch since November) and were driving separate fire rigs when their trucks collided.
We have an incredible community of neighboring ranchers and cowboys and everyone helps their neighbor whenever a fire breaks out—so there were friends on the scene to help. Ladd was stiff but able to walk around immediately after the accident, so he refused medical attention. This was partly because he wanted the paramedics to focus on Caleb, partly because he was still a little stunned by the accident, and partly because cowboys don’t like to admit when they’re hurt. After Caleb’s ambulance left, Ladd drove himself to the hospital in Pawhuska, thinking he'd just quietly get checked out. He called me on his way and tried to explain what happened, at which time I promptly lost all feeling in my knees before running out the door and heading to town.
I’m putting everyone in my life on notice: I’m about to stop answering the phone around this place.
I won’t take you through every step of the past several days, but here’s the important part: Caleb and Ladd are going to be okay. Caleb broke some ribs, had a pretty bad concussion, and a few other injuries that will heal. Ladd (the guy I told you about who drove himself to the hospital?) broke his neck in two places—and evidently one of the two fractures was very close to being catastrophic. Have I mentioned cowboys don’t like to admit when they’re hurt? Ladd was transferred to Tulsa and had surgery to stabilize one of the fractures. Thanks to some rods and other hardware (and an amazing neurosurgeon named Dr. Kalani), it’s fixed now and that danger is over. He will have to wear a neck brace for several weeks to let the other fracture heal, and the girls and I will bling out the brace for Alex’s wedding…but we are just grateful he will be here for Alex’s wedding.
Missy stayed by Caleb’s side and I stayed by Ladd’s (we were in the same hospital). Shoutout to the Wendy’s next door to the hospital for getting us through. Frosties are truly medicinal in these situations. Ladd’s brother Tim rotated between his son and his brother, and I felt so bad for him. Tim and Ladd lost their older brother when they were teenagers, and I know that was a whole other kind of worry and pain he was navigating. But now Caleb’s back home and is doing well, thank God, and Ladd and I were able to come home yesterday afternoon. He’s got some recovering to do, but he should be back in the saddle (figuratively and literally) before too long.
(I have to take a minute to thank the amazing medical team and the whole staff at St. John’s in Tulsa. Thank you so much for taking care of our guys.)
A day or two after the accident, Alex and Paige (who came home to help with the animals as well as teenage boys) asked me if I was okay. I think they said, “Mom…how are you doing?” I looked at them and said, simply, “I am good.” After all, we women are Steel Magnolias. Dealing with unexpected family happenings like this simply comes with the territory. I guess if you’ve lived enough years as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, you’re going to develop the ability to power through crises without crumbling. I may still have a crumble ahead, don’t get me wrong…but right now I’m firmly in Steel Magnolia mode. Does anyone need me to fight any battles for you or stand in front of a freight train on your behalf? My energy is fully engaged and I am happy to assist. Better take me up on it before I decide I need a nap. 😊
But really, I think I said “I am good” because even though it's been hard to see the guys in pain, I have such a vivid picture of how very different (and how much worse) things could have turned out for our family last week. And how different today could look. For both Caleb and Ladd to be okay—injured, yes, but fixable—after seeing the condition of their trucks makes me not want to spend one second complaining. I can't even be mad at Ladd for driving himself to the hospital with a broken neck. I'm just so glad I'm home with him.
So rather than wish the accident didn’t happen, I’m gonna live in a state of gratitude—not just for the guys being okay, but also for the love, kindness, and prayers of so many of you. Thank you all so very much for reaching out to our family and for keeping us in your hearts through the past several days. I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us, and I’ll never, ever forget it!
Love,
Ree
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.
