MEEKER | Bailey and Ann Franklin have literally spent their entire lives in the Meeker area except for time away at college, and Ann said that Meeker fits the family lifestyle just perfectly.
Bailey and Ann dated each other in high school, went to college together and decided to tie the knot in 1999, also here in Meeker.
Bailey and Ann went to college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in range ecology and her master’s degree in agriculture; Bailey earned his bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and his master’s degree in science.
Ann is a stay-at-home mom. She also worked for the Cooperative Extension Service in Moffat County for several years and for the Habitat Partnership Program. She has a private natural resources consulting firm. Ann has also served as a volunteer 4-H leader for more than a decade.
Bailey is a district wildlife manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and he spends much of his time volunteering assistance to the recreation district with hunter safety, youth fishing and several other outdoor-related programs.
The Franklins have three children: the oldest, daughter Hadley, 9, is in third grade; son Montey, who is six, is in kindergarten; and youngest son Miles is 20 months.
Ann said Bailey likes to spend his free time hunting and fishing as well as trail riding on horseback in the back country.
She likes tending to her various animals, which “range from dogs to chickens and horses; I guess I am just a ranch girl all the way.”
Together, Bailey and Ann love the wide-open spaces, the wildlife and small-town living.
Asked what she likes so much about Meeker, Ann said, “We moved back here to raise our children on the Franklin ranch, where we are surrounded with great family values and freedom for the kids.”
“We both love the wide-open spaces, the wildlife and small-town living,” she said.
While neither claims any life-changing moments in the past, Ann said that Bailey would “love to have the time and money to go hunting all around the world. That would be ideal.”
Ann said, “I just hope I raise my kids with a good foundation, and my dream is that they spread their wings and follow their dreams when they grow up.”