Ree Drummond’s daughter Paige has returned to the 433k-acre Drummond Ranch full-time since January, diving headfirst into the demanding life of a cattle rancher.
Paige Transitions from University Life
Having previously studied at the University of Arkansas, Paige now finds her morning meetings very different. Instead of office buildings, she meets with cows under the vast open sky. As Ree described in her blog post from May 20, Paige starts pretty early around daylight. She arrives at the ranch from town, fills up her feeder, and then heads out into the pasture to feed the cattle.
A Full Range of Ranch Duties
Paige’s tasks are varied and challenging. From sorting cattle to fixing fences and water gaps, she is gaining experiences in every aspect of ranching. She’s getting more and more experience in every aspect of ranching, from sorting cattle to weaning calves to fixing fence and water gaps to building salt boxes and a long list of other have-to chores.
In Ree’s words, She’s getting banged up, scratched, bruised, and clobbered…and time will tell if she’s in this for the long haul! Ladd is loving having her home. (Psst. I am, too!)
The Drummond Herd and More
Life on the Drummond Ranch involves interacting with a variety of animals. The ranch hosts four Basset hounds, two yellow Labrador retrievers, a German shepherd, horses, kitties, and even a newfound fawn named Shelby. Paige handles responsibilities like feeding, gardening, and caring for these animals herself.
An Empty Nest That Never Stays Empty
Although Ree and Ladd felt the effects of an empty nest when their children grew up and left for college or careers, Ree noted how it never stays empty for long. My favorite thing about being an empty nester is that the nest is really never empty for very long… They clear out for pockets of time just long enough for me to collect dust and get all my own laundry done.
In sum, Paige’s return brings a dynamic shift in both the family’s lifestyle and operational dynamics on the ranch.
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