Meeker resident Dessa Watson’s menagerie of critters, including BoBo the longhorn, are often seen out and about in town and at local events, but may be more recognizable by her more than 100K online followers. ADRIENNE WIX PHOTO
MEEKER | You’ve seen her. You’ve seen her cow, her goats, her ducks. You’ve seen Dessa Watson, but do you know her? You may think you do, but this woman is like an iceberg. She is a great mom and wife who has a ton of fun with her animals, that’s apparent to all. She is also a Colorado State University (CSU) instructor and advisor of Extension Education, a former Extension Agent of 4-H Youth Development, a social media star, and the Easter Bunny.
The HT interviewed Watson the day following her return from Utah where she gave her first keynote speech on the topic of burnout and work-life balance at the Utah State University 4-H Agents annual conference. The conference was a clear success for Watson as nearly everyone who heard her keynote speech attended her workshop the next day. In this workshop Watson presented something she had originally written for herself but now uses in her CSU courses as well: “The Donkey Diaries,” a short course focusing on time management.
Watson has been an online instructor/advisor with CSU since 2008 in the College of Agricultural Sciences. In this position Watson instructs: AGED 520 4-H and Youth Development Programs in Extension, AGRI 546 Principles of Cooperative Extension, AGRI 547 Delivery of Cooperative Extension, AGED 692 Extension Seminar, and AGED 587 Internship Coordinator. Most of us are familiar with the CSU Extension offices found in nearly every community throughout Colorado without quite understanding the scope of work and education they provide. Extension offices are often the “middle man” that connect university research with land owners, ranchers, farmers, etc., in order to improve practices and outcomes for everyone involved.
As a volunteer for the 4-H Youth Development Club in Rio Blanco County, Watson works to recruit members and provide leadership opportunities and trainings for the 4-H volunteer leaders, organize activities, assures CSU 4-H compliance, serves as the liaison between the various subcouncils and committees within the 4-H club and the Extension Office, participates in the state planning committees, and much more.
But Watson also understands that the best way to avoid burnout is to balance your work life and life passions. THE FARM.ILY is Watson’s online presence and at home bliss.
“Friendship and fun with farm animals,” is the tagline on the FARM.ILY’s website, thefunnyfarmily.com.
Whether you get to visit her farm someday with your boots on the ground, or virtually via TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or on her website, you will absorb a clear sense as to what that means to Watson. You won’t be alone either; 119.7K followers on TikTok love to see BoBo, Blueberry and all the rest of the FARM.ILY dress up, bebop around, and generally live well-loved lives on the Watson farm. Through her social media platforms Watson is able to educate her followers on just how cuddly these animals have the potential to be when they are being raised by someone willing to show them compassion day after day.
Some of the FARM.ILY’s biggest stars include BoBo, the 4-year-old Corriente/Longhorn; Blueberry, the fun loving lamb; Shama Llama Ding Dong and Dolly Llama (named for Dolly Parton). You may even spot these stars moseying around town events from time to time. Other happy residents of the farm include Lucky, BoBo’s two year old heifer friend; donkeys Daddy and Sonny; pigs Peter and Paul; goats Pinkerton and Stinkerton; Boyfriend John, an 11-year-old Andalusian gelding; the dogs, the chickens, the ducks, and more.
Watson is clearly a busy lady, but she makes for one of her favorite roles of all, being Meeker’s Easter Bunny and providing endless hugs to anyone, big or small.
BY ADRIENNE WIX | Special to the Herald Times
A previous version of this story had Watson incorrectly listed as a CSU Extension Instructor and 4-H Youth Development Agent for Rio Blanco County. Watson is currently employed by CSU’s College of Agricultural Science in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, team Agricultural Education – Masters of Extension Program, and is a 4-H volunteer. Tonya Merz is the current Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in Rio Blanco County. The HT regrets the error.
