One day, a fourth generation of family members will run Lenz Farms in Yuma County 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?

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.

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.

Colorado’s small but thriving LGBTQ+ Ballroom scene embraces and celebrates people for who they are. The houses often serve as a support system for queer people, an acceptance many do not receive from their own families.

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?

The Boulder Police Department unveiled its first Pride badge in June. The badge is a symbol of the progress Boulder PD has made but there’s still work to be done in how law enforcement agencies serve LGBTQ+ people.

A former legislative aid describes how gender identities have become politicized in Colorado, years after undergoing his own gender transition.

Gov. Jared Polis reflects on “The Hate State” label, while he himself is a symbol of the state’s progress around equality and the acceptance and LGBTQ+ rights.

Once known as the Hate State, Colorado has become more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. Now, heated exchanges over gender identity are playing out in school districts across the state. Some are adopting gender inclusive guidelines, outlining how to support transgender and non-binary students. How and when to involve parents is up for debate.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Amendment 2 in 1996, Colorado has emerged as a leader for LGBTQ+ rights and laws this includes ensuring transgender and non-binary people have access to the health care they need. Plus a Northern Colorado medical recsidency program is normalizing HIV care in a primary care clinic.