Wibaux County

Established in 1914, Wibaux County has a rich pioneer history and a long tradition of community engagement. The town of Wibaux, the county seat, sits near the North Dakota border halfway between Wyoming and Canada. For more than 100 years, the MSU Extension office has served the diverse population by providing valuable education programs. Building on its roots from early boys’ and girls’ “corn clubs,” today’s MSU Wibaux County MSU Extension oversees 4-H, Agriculture, Family/Consumer Science, and Horticulture programs.

Contact

P.O. Box 345
Wibaux, MT
406-839-1558
https://www.montana.edu/extension/wibaux/

Wibaux Garden to Table Program

Wibaux is considered a food desert primarily due to the distance residents must travel to access a large grocery store, limiting residents’ access to fresh and nutritious food. In response, the multiphase Garden to Table program is launching two key initiatives: the Farm to School Program and the Wibaux Community Garden. This multi-year initiative will help improve nutrition and health for local families by cultivating fresh, healthy food right in their own community.

After identifying the critical issue of food deserts in our rural community, the Garden to Table Plan was developed in collaboration with community input, the county health department, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. This plan establishes customized educational programs for youth and adults, providing community members with skills and resources to cultivate and prepare nutritious food. The program addresses food insecurity by ensuring locally produced food will stay within the community, leading to improved health outcomes.

This initiative has clear goals and measurable outcomes, serving as a concrete roadmap for community action. The Garden to Table program is designed to:

• Empower community members, from youth to adults, with knowledge and skills to grow, store and prepare their own food.
• Increase the availability of nutritious, locally grown food, directly addressing the rural food desert problem.
• Forster inter-generational collaboration and strengthen community ties through the shared experience of gardening.
• Set a foundation for improved public health outcomes by increasing access to and consumption of a wide variety of health foods.

The program mission is to strengthen our community by fostering and sustaining the Garden-to-Table program. Collaborating with the community, government, schools, and local businesses, people are empowered to grow together, creating healthy, resilient communities.

Caption: Master Gardeners and Volunteers design plans for the Wibaux Community Garden.

Credit: Kelli Bacon

Well Water Testing

In Wibaux County, where vast lands and sparse waterways shape life, access to clean water isn’t a given, it's a responsibility. For the county’s 937 residents, well water is the primary life source for every household and head of livestock. This is due to scarcity of local surface water, with the Yellowstone River and Beaver Creek providing only limited resources.

Unlike residents in town who benefit from monthly testing, well owners outside Wibaux’s borders are solely responsible for testing and maintaining their water. From the morning‘s first cup of coffee to the nightly shower, clean, fresh water is essential. This places the health of every family directly in the hands of the individual homeowner, a crucial task that ensures life in the county can continue to thrive.

The issue: A hidden threat in Wibaux County’s water.

Health risks: Bacterial contamination and high mineral/salt levels can affect the health of residents and livestock.

Financial strain: Elevated mineral levels cause corrosion in pipes, fixtures and appliances, burdening families with expensive repairs.

A deep-rooted problem: Poor water quality affects both the county’s deep wells, extending over 900 feet, and shallow wells, around 50 feet.

The response: Empowering the community with knowledge.

To combat this unseen threat, MSU Extension Wibaux County launched a proactive campaign in partnership with the Montana State University Well Educated Program in Bozeman to conduct well water education workshops.

MSU Extension distributed numerous water testing kits, successfully increasing the rate of water testing across the county.

The impact: Safeguarding community health and resources

Through focused education efforts, MSU Extension has delivered tangible results and established a foundation for monitoring and safe water use.

Caption: Livestock Well in Wibaux County

Credit: Kelli Bacon

Wibaux County Health Fair

For over 30 years, MSU Extension Wibaux County has supported the Wibaux County Health Fair, an event serving 250 to 500 rural residents annually. In a region where the nearest hospital is 30 miles away, the fair bridges critical healthcare gaps by offering affordable screening for conditions like diabetes, Vitamin D deficiency, and prostate cancer (PSA), in addition to blood pressure and bone density tests. The reduced-cost lab services are especially crucial for uninsured farmers and ranchers.

The fair also provides essential health education and fosters community connection, with participants sharing a continental breakfast and engaging with health professionals. A dedicated panel of planners, including Wibaux County Health Nurse Trish Olson, MSU Extension Agent Kelli Bacon, Britta Brenner, Karina Dale and Shanna Tillan, collaborate for months to organize the event, ensuring vital health services and information are accessible to residents.

The health fair features affordable screenings: low-cost blood profiles, A1C, Vitamin D, PSA, blood pressure, and bone density tests.

The community event delivers health information on nutrition and healthy lifestyles, and is an anticipated annual event and a social gathering point for residents.

Caption: Blood Draw Section at the Wibaux County Health Fair 2025.

Credit: Kelli Bacon