Want to see more than a dozen hemp materials and technologies in one place?
IND HEMP’s Belgrade location features hempcrete, insulation, flooring, acoustic products, erosion-control materials, and more, installed and on display.
The installation opened during IND HEMP’s Hemp in the Built Environment (HIBE) Symposium on October 8. The symposium brought regional professionals together for presentations, panels, vendor conversations, and a guided tour. The event has ended, but the demonstration site is here to stay as a resource for architects, designers, builders, homeowners, and others interested in exploring hemp in construction.
IND HEMP thanks the Montana Department of Commerce, whose support through an agritourism initiative helped make the symposium possible, and the Montana Department of Agriculture and HEMI for supporting the project through the Hemp Checkoff Program. Their support helped create a lasting place for people across the region to see these materials firsthand and build on growing interest in hemp-based construction.
Connecting hemp agriculture with building applications
The symposium program connected hemp’s agricultural supply chain with current building and land management applications. IND HEMP CEO and Co-Founder Morgan Tweet discussed hemp agriculture and processing in Fort Benton. Carbon Expert Rusty Peterson followed with a session on sustainability and carbon accounting across a material’s lifecycle, from soil through end of life.
Kirby Hancock of High Plains Architecture led “Seed to Skyline: Growing Regenerative Construction,” an AIA continuing education session on healthier indoor environments and carbon storage. The panel “Natural Building Benefits & Considerations” brought together representatives from Montana State University, Thruline Partners, and Obermeyer Architecture to discuss commercially available hemp products and their use in construction projects. An architecture and building Q&A gave attendees an opportunity to raise practical questions.
The hemp systems site tour brought those discussions into the demonstration area. Attendees could see hempcrete blocks and cast-in-place walls, hemp batt insulation, acoustic panels, HempWood flooring, carpet underlayment, and hemp fiber erosion-control and landscaping mats. Together, these products show the range of hemp applications in the built environment, from interior construction to site work and land management.
Senator Tim Sheehy delivered remarks during the midday program, followed by a ribbon cutting with the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce. The afternoon extended the conversation beyond buildings with “Hemp in Erosion/Sediment Control & Restoration,” featuring Big Hole Watershed Committee, Winnett ACES, and 2M Global Net. The panel explored civil engineering, remediation, and restoration uses for hemp.
Participating vendors and organizations included 2M Global, Big Hole Watershed Committee, Winnett ACES, ECB|Verdyol, RenewaBuild, Bison Biocomposites, Hempitecture, Homeland Hempcrete, HempWood, Thruline Partners, MSU Architecture, High Plains Architecture, New Age Artisans, and OSU. Their participation connected attendees directly with people working across product development, design, installation, research, and field applications.
Building on regional interest
Feedback after the symposium affirmed the value of bringing these groups together. Attendees appreciated the combination of presentations, panels, vendor conversations, hands-on exploration, and time to connect with others working in the field. Their responses also pointed to practical applications they are considering, from insulation and sound dampening to hemp-and-lime housing, wall assemblies, weed barriers, revegetation mats, and erosion control.
The feedback highlighted what professionals need to move from interest toward implementation: examples of completed projects, information about product cost and availability, reliable sourcing, installation guidance, and details about performance, testing, codes, permitting, and insurance. These questions are part of building a market for hemp materials. Manufacturers, suppliers, designers, contractors, researchers, and prospective customers all have a role in answering them.
The demonstration site at IND HEMP is intended to support that work well beyond the symposium. Regional professionals can use it to explore hemp building products together, learn about potential applications, and start conversations that could lead to projects and partnerships.
IND HEMP welcomes architects, builders, designers, contractors, developers, homeowners, and others from across the region to visit the site. Bring colleagues, clients, students, or project teams to ask questions, share ideas, and consider where hemp materials might fit into your work. Contact IND HEMP to arrange a visit.
The HIBE symposium opened the door. The demonstration site keeps the conversation going—and offers the region a place to build on that enthusiasm, strengthen connections, and help grow demand for hemp-based construction materials.