A powerful hailstorm that swept through Grand Junction and parts of the Grand Valley on June 6 left behind a trail of battered crops, torn leaves, and broken spirits—particularly among the area’s farmers. Some reported hail as large as golf balls, ripping through fields and gardens in what many are calling one of the most destructive hail events in recent memory.

At Okagawa Farms, a family-owned operation in Orchard Mesa, the damage was swift and severe.

“We have 200 acres in one section that was completely devastated. It stripped everything. All the leaves were off,” said Let Nieslanik, owner of Okagawa Farms.
“I’ve never seen hail this devastating with such a wide path.”

A Wide Path of Destruction

Hailstorms are not new to Colorado farmers—but this one was different.
What’s typically a localized phenomenon instead carved a broad path across the valley, slamming entire fields and backyards in minutes.

• Entire crop fields leveled

• Plants stripped bare of leaves

• Tomato and zucchini gardens wiped out

Nieslanik, who has lived in the valley her entire life and managed the farm for 34 years, emphasized just how unusual this storm was.

“You’ll get spots of hail, but never such a wide path.”

A Community Reeling

It wasn’t just commercial farmers who took the hit. Home gardeners across the valley have flooded local nurseries in recent days, desperate to replace ruined plants.

“All of the local gardeners that have, you know, two or three tomato plants and zucchini, all of their gardens are gone,” Nieslanik noted.
“They’ve been coming in steadily and trying to replace the plants.”

Orchard Mesa Hit Hard, Fruit Orchards Spared

While much of Orchard Mesa suffered significant damage, there were pockets of reprieve. According to Nieslanik, peach and cherry growers she spoke with were spared the worst of the hail, receiving only rain.

That bit of luck may offer some economic relief to the region’s fruit sector, but for many vegetable growers, the road ahead remains uncertain.

Hope Amid Destruction

Though the storm set production timelines back by at least two weeks, Nieslanik remains determined to rebuild.

“My outlook is hopeful that we will be able to bounce back from this,” she said.
“I don’t know if we can, but we’re going to try.”

Farmers across the region now face the difficult task of assessing total crop loss, replanting where possible, and hoping for a smoother growing season ahead.

Colorado’s Increasing Weather Extremes

This latest hailstorm underscores what many in Colorado agriculture have been experiencing for years: a rise in unpredictable, extreme weather events.

For farmers with tight margins, events like this can devastate an entire season’s yield—threatening not just profits but long-term viability.

As the community rallies around its growers, the conversation is also turning toward disaster relief, crop insurance challenges, and the need for more resilient agricultural systems in a changing climate.