Rate My Professor Hillary Maxwell

Hillary Maxwell serves as the Community Vitality Agent for Montana State University Extension at the Fort Belknap Reservation Extension Office in Harlem, Montana. In this role, she delivers research-based educational programs focused on family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, community development, and sustainable gardening practices to improve quality of life on the reservation. Maxwell has been instrumental in leading initiatives such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), partnering with Master Gardener programs to address food insecurity. As a grant recipient for Growing Together Montana, she collaborated with community members to establish and maintain the Old Hays Community Garden, installing raised beds and high tunnels that produce fresh vegetables donated to local food banks and emergency food resources. This project has empowered neighborhood residents, fostering greater comfort and appreciation for local gardening efforts. Maxwell noted, 'Having fresh produce right in the neighborhood has been the greatest impact. Community members are getting more comfortable with the garden space and are appreciating its value.'

Maxwell's contributions extend to innovative educational outreach, including high tunnel projects at Old Hays School for hands-on learning, partnerships with local grandmothers to plan community gardens, and instruction in food preservation techniques such as dehydration and pickling. She participates in the Opioid Use Disorder Project, providing awareness and education, and supports the Montana Farm Stress Clearinghouse initiative. In recognition of her housing outreach efforts, Maxwell and team member Brenda Richey earned 3rd Place National Winner in the Extension Housing Outreach Award from the National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences. Recently, she was selected as a 2025 Rural Ambassador for the Montana Nonprofit Association, bringing nonprofit resources to Blaine and Phillips Counties. Through these programs, Maxwell enhances community vitality, promotes healthy eating, and strengthens local food systems on the Fort Belknap Reservation, reaching thousands through volunteer-driven impacts like over 2,500 Master Gardener hours and 5,380 pounds of donated produce in 2021 alone. Her work exemplifies MSU Extension's commitment to practical education and tribal partnerships.