PAONIA, Colo. — Few industries are growing as fast as Colorado’s craft beer industry. In recent years, it’s pumped as much as $826 million into the local economy.

It’s also become a huge asset for small communities around the state who rely on tourists to check our their breweries.

That’s why farmers like Glen Fuller are busier than ever. Fuller is a small scale hops farmer in Paonia. He’s believed to be the first small scale hops farmer in the state. “In Colorado and probably the United States,” he said.

Fuller chose Paonia because of its amazing eco-climate. It’s a good place to grow hops, he explained.

Fuller is originally from the east coast. He left a six-figure corporate job to run the hops farm in Delta County.

It started with a conversation he had with a friend who was looking to sell her farm.

“I wasn’t drinking much beer then, but I just ordered a martini and she kept saying, ‘keep em’ coming’” Fuller joked.

Long story short, booze grew into the ingredients to make more booze.

“It took me about 30 seconds to say ‘I’ll take it!’” he said.

Fuller has been growing hops for the better part of eight years. He says the industry grows larger each year. These days he sells his product to about 15 well-known breweries around the state, including New Belgium and Left Hand.

“When you can hand someone a beer and say this IPA is made with Colorado hops and they say WOW! That’s really great!,” Fuller said.

Fuller says more micro-hops farms are popping up around Colorado as the industry grows.

It’s an industry he fell in love with.

See more about the organic community of Paonia here.