Ree and Ladd Drummond have raised four kids, built a life on the ranch, and stood by each other through just about everything. Over the years, they've shared the hard parts, the joyful parts, and everything in between—and now, with a new granddaughter in the mix, they're watching it all come full circle. Through all the ups and downs of parenting, one thing's always been clear to Ree: Ladd was meant to be a dad.
For Father's Day this year, The Pioneer Woman shared a throwback photo of Ladd holding newborn Alex back in 1997. His hair was darker, his T-shirt was dusted with ranch dirt (as always), and his expression was one every parent knows, when you're looking at your first baby and your whole world shifts.
"1997. Feels like forever ago and feels like yesterday," Ree wrote in the caption. "I love this photo. When I see it I stop and stare and feel those 1997 feelings. Neither of us knew what we were doing. But Ladd didn't have sisters, so these were uncharted waters for him especially. But Alex made it easy for him to fall in love with fatherhood, and Paige after that. When the boys came along, they were just the icing on the cake. Happy Father's Day, Ladd. We love you a lot. ❤️"
She's written about this very photo before, calling it a snapshot of the man she married: "Strong, protective, serious, introspective, in awe of his kids. And covered in dirt and sweat, but my babies never minded."
And it's true. Ladd has always shown up for his family in the ways that matter most. He's the kind of dad who works all day, then hauls himself to the kids' activities, fixes what's broken, and helps out before anyone even knows they need help. "Acts of service" is definitely his love language, according to Ree—and when it comes to the ranch, the house, the kids (and now grandkids), that's exactly how he shows it.
Alex and Paige both chimed in to the comments on Ree's post, with Alex writing, "We love Laddy Daddy!!!" Paige echoed that same sweet and simple sentiment: "Laddy daddy!!! We love you!" They also shared their own tributes on Instagram. Alex posted a sweet photo of Ladd holding Sofia at the hospital and captioned it, "Happy Father’s Day to the best dad/Papa ❤️." Paige shared some wedding snapshots with the words, "Happy Father's Day to the best 💗 love this guy a lot!!!"
Clearly, this cowboy is loved deeply—and not just for the work he does, but for the way he leads his family with steadiness, loyalty, and heart. Happy Father's Day, Ladd!
