We had such a great time at the rodeo.
We did not do very well at the rodeo.
But that’s okay, because we still enjoyed the rodeo.
Rodeo, rodeo, rodeo, rodeo, rodeo, rodeo, rodeo.
Here are some things I learned about rodeos at this year’s rodeo.
1. Every men’s shirt—whether worn by contestants or spectators—is starched.
2. 89% of the men’s jeans—whether worn by contestants or spectators—are starched.
My husband’s are in the 11%.
3. White shirts are handsome shirts.
4. A monkey herding sheep on the back of a border collie…
…is perfectly normal.
Please take some time today to read about Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey.
Oh my.
5. A six-year-old girl singing the National Anthem moves grown men to tears.
Grown redheaded 42-year-old women, too.
6. Warm cinnamon-sugar almonds are dang good.
And the thousandth one is just as good as the first.
7. If you take a purse into the building, when you leave it will be saturated in spilled pop.
Especially if you sit by me.
8. As soon as you get back from taking one of your kids to the bathroom, another one will suddenly have to go.
9. After awhile, you just let them go by themselves because you’re really tired of taking kids to the bathroom.
Can everyone just please coordinate your bathrooms cycles?
10. You just hope they come back eventually.
And you hope they bring you neon orange nachos when they do.
11. My husband is tough.
But not tougher than a 1,200 pound cow.
12. If you smile after you get thrown by a 1,200 pound cow it hurts a little less.
13. Roping is everything.
14. Wow.
Congratulations to all the teams for your awesome work!
Love,
The Lady Who Ate 1,000 Cinnamon Sugar Almonds
*Burp*
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.
