Parker McCollum Aims to Pass Ranch Life Lessons to His Sons

Country music star Parker McCollum is embracing the opportunity to share the lessons he learned from hunting and ranch life with his own sons. Having recently spent time at the family ranch with his eldest son, 2-year-old Major, McCollum expressed his enthusiasm for recreating the experiences he cherished in his own childhood.

"I was taking him with me to kind of, you know, just do some ranch stuff," McCollum told OutKick OutDoors. "He can't really. He just kind of stands out there and pulls grass out of the ground while I'm working or whatever."

Despite Major's limited contribution to ranch work, McCollum finds joy in the shared moments, drawing parallels to his own upbringing. "I remember those days so vividly," he said. "My dad would get me out of school early on a Friday to go down to the lease or the ranch or whatever, and we would let it rip all weekend. And a lot of times it was just him and I. To say that I look forward to doing that for him and with him is an understatement."

A Lifelong Love of the Outdoors

McCollum's connection to the outdoors began early. In a 2022 interview with NRA Country, the Texas native recalled going bird hunting with his father at around 8 years old, equipped with a single-shot .410 shotgun. He identified his father as one of his favorite hunting companions.

Even before he was old enough to actively participate, McCollum felt a strong pull toward outdoor activities. He remembered crying during a 2024 interview with Audacy when his father and other family members would leave for hunting trips without him because he was too young to join.

Beyond hunting season, McCollum's summers were spent working cattle, branding steers, and tending to his grandfather's ranch with his cousins. Now, he hopes his sons, Major and his younger brother Rocker, will develop a similar appreciation for rural life and the natural world.

The Importance of Slowing Down

With a demanding music career, a growing family, and a frequent travel schedule, McCollum recognizes the challenges of finding moments of calm. He emphasizes the importance of time spent outdoors as a vital counterbalance.

"There is nothing I love more than sitting in a tree in East Texas or South Texas or the Midwest. Even if you don’t see a dadgum deer," he told OutKick OutDoors. "There's just something about it that's so good for your soul."

McCollum described his family's ranch visits as a deliberate effort to disconnect from the fast pace of daily life, focusing on family connection rather than a packed itinerary. "Our whole intention was just slowing it down and turning it off and just spending time as a family, and no agenda," he said. "We wake up late and cook breakfast, and hunt in the evenings, and crockpot dinner, and ride around."

This mindful approach is a lesson he hopes his sons will carry with them into adulthood. "Don't ever get so busy or worried about other stuff that you forget to do this."