How two central Montana companies led the creation of a domestically made shirt from hemp, a crop that had been illegal to grow in the U.S. for nearly a century, is more than a clothing story, it is a case study in Montana driven economic innovation. In 2020, hemp grown north of Fort Benton began a supply chain that never left American borders, culminating in the Benton work shirt, a 150 dollar garment made from Montana processed hemp fiber and American grown cotton.

At the center of the effort is IND Hemp in Fort Benton, which invested in specialized fiber processing equipment and years of refinement to decorticate (Decortication is the crucial mechanical process of separating the outer bast fibers from the inner, woody hurd (core) of the hemp plant. This process transforms raw stalks into usable materials: strong bast fiber for textiles and industrial products, and hurd for building materials, animal bedding, and mulch. ) and prepare textile grade hemp.

Partnering with Great Falls based Smith and Rogue, the companies proved that Montana agriculture can anchor a complex domestic manufacturing chain. For Fort Benton, a small community along the Missouri River, the project reinforces its role as a hub for value added agriculture and advanced processing, supporting jobs, attracting investment, and strengthening local tax bases.

The experiment matters to Montana citizens because it demonstrates how rural communities can drive economic growth through innovation tied to the land. Hemp production offers farmers crop diversification, while processing at IND Hemp keeps more value in state rather than exporting raw materials. Although the initial run was small and costly, the proof of concept positions Montana to capture a share of a textile market where more than 97 percent of clothing is currently made overseas.

Scaling up domestic hemp textiles could stimulate new manufacturing partnerships, expand employment in processing and logistics, and enhance Montana’s reputation as a leader in sustainable, American made products. For the Montana economy, projects like this signal long term potential for agricultural based manufacturing growth, strengthening supply chains, encouraging entrepreneurship, and building resilience in communities such as Fort Benton that depend on steady economic opportunity.

Bear Paw Development Corporation

The American-made hemp shirt experiment