Growing A Future: A unique business model keeps this family farm thriving on Colorado’s Eastern Plains

Growing a Future: Will there be enough water to sustain this family farm for the future?

One day, a fourth generation of family members will run Lenz Farms on Colorado’s Eastern Plains. They plan to bring back innovative ideas and implement new things to help the farm continue to grow. But will these fresh ideas be enough to offset a shrinking water supply? The Colorado Dream shares stories of Coloradans who are overcoming obstacles to create a better life for themselves and their families in an effort to achieve the American Dream.

Growing A Future: A unique business model keeps this family farm thriving on Colorado’s Eastern Plains

Lenz Farms in Yuma County, Colo., was started by a father and his four sons in the 1970s. They created a unique business model that keeps management and ownership in the family. This has allowed Lenz Farms to survive and thrive over the decades, unlike hundreds of thousands of other family farms.

Growing a Future: As family farms disappear, one on the Eastern Plains is thriving

Family farms have been disappearing across the country for decades. From extreme weather to fluctuating crop prices to water scarcity, building a business off the land is hard. But row by row and harvest after harvest, one Eastern Colorado family is bucking that trend. This is their story.

Growing A Future: Trailer

Growing a Future: Family farms have been disappearing across the United States for decades. From extreme weather to fluctuating commodity prices to trade policies, building a business off the land is hard. But one Eastern Colorado family is bucking that trend. This is their story of four generations of farming. The Colorado Dream theme song: Jason Paton Bue Dot Sessions track Lahaina [https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/1b8ebb13-1346-4949-8722-1431213eb725]

Ending the Hate State: Hate State, no more

In the final story in our series, “The Colorado Dream: Ending the Hate State,” we ask Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a police chief and a long-time legislative aide: Where does Colorado stand today with the "Hate State" label?