Welcome to Pondera County

Published: 2019
By Wendy Wedum

Pondera County is a rural agricultural county approximately 1,640 square miles in size. It has private, state, tribal and federal lands. Pondera County is on the western edge of the Golden Triangle area of north central Montana and produces some of the best winter wheat grown in the United States. In addition, barley, pulse crops, hay, and livestock (cattle and sheep) support many families and five Hutterite Colonies as the largest income-producing segment of the local economy. The educational role of MSU Extension in Pondera County is significant to the producer’s bottom line. Programs of note in 2019 include the Master Farmer class, Calvin’ Fever class and the launch of the Conrad Farmer’s Market. MSU Extension Agriculture Agent Adriane Good received an individual national award for the Master Farmer Class and a team national award for the Calvin’ Fever class with the Glacier and Toole County MSU Extension Agents. In 2019, Pondera County 4-H had 75 members (8-19 years), 11 Cloverbuds (6-8 years) and 31 volunteer leaders. One leader has been active in the Pondera 4-H program for 53 years!