Cowboy Pete by The Pioneer Woman

This week we have to say goodbye to one of the greats. Many of you who have read this website (or watched my cooking show) through the years have likely seen “Cowboy Pete.” Cowboy Pete has been on the ranch for over 28 years (much longer than I have) and he has always, always been there. Working cattle, cutting hay, fixing fence, repairing equipment—and that only scratches the surface of all the work he did.

My kids have never known the ranch without him, Marlboro Man and Tim can’t imagine the ranch without him, and this is a loss everyone is going to feel. He has lived in the same place on our ranch forever. It’s right off the highway once you turn off our our road. All week as I’ve passeed by Pete’s place, I have felt the same ache. It’s so strange that he’s not there anymore. It’s still sinking in.

Pete was a helper. That is his legacy. At his service, his amazing daughter Bird spoke. She said that what Pete taught her and her siblings was that there was always time to help people. Pete would stop and help a stranded motorist or someone in need no matter how much of a hurry he was in himself. What a lesson to teach your children.

Pete was also a family man. Please keep his family in your prayers.

We love you, Pete. Rest in peace, friend.