Funk Farm walked away with more medals than any other cultivator at the 2026 High Times Cannabis Cup Montana, placing in all three flower categories and earning six total awards at the state's premier cannabis competition.
The Montana event, held earlier this month, drew entries from across the state's licensed cultivation and manufacturing sector. Wild Sky Farms claimed top honors in both the hybrid and indica flower categories, while Funk Farm's consistent quality across sativa, hybrid, and indica divisions gave them the edge in overall medal count.
The competition results offer a snapshot of Montana's maturing cannabis market, now in its fourth year of adult-use sales. The state's recreational program launched in January 2022 following voter approval of Initiative 190 in 2020, and has since grown to include over 400 licensed dispensaries statewide.
Extraction Methods Take Center Stage
A notable trend emerged in the edibles and gummy categories, where three of the six medals went to products that prominently featured their extraction method on packaging and marketing materials. The shift reflects growing consumer interest in production transparency and manufacturing processes.
Industry observers say the emphasis on extraction methods—whether CO2, ethanol, or hydrocarbon-based—signals Montana consumers are becoming more sophisticated in their purchasing decisions. Products that clearly communicate their manufacturing process are gaining traction in a market where quality differentiation matters more as competition increases.
The Cannabis Cup scoring system relies on blind consumer judging, with participants rating entries on appearance, aroma, flavor, and effects without knowing brand names or producers. Judges receive sample products in unmarked containers and submit scores through High Times' digital platform.
Montana Market Context
Montana's adult-use cannabis sales hit $278 million in 2025, according to state revenue data, with flower products accounting for roughly 45% of total sales. The state's relatively small population of 1.1 million means competition among cultivators is fierce, particularly for shelf space in the state's independent dispensary market.
Funk Farm operates cultivation facilities in western Montana and supplies roughly 80 dispensaries across the state. Wild Sky Farms, based in the Flathead Valley region, has built a reputation for high-THC flower strains and expanded its canopy space by 30% in 2025.
The Cannabis Cup results often influence wholesale pricing and retail demand in the weeks following the competition. Previous winners have reported sales increases of 20-40% in the month after their Cannabis Cup victories, according to High Times event data.
What's Next
High Times will hold its next regional Cannabis Cup event in Oregon in May 2026, followed by competitions in California and Michigan later in the year. The company's Cannabis Cup series has expanded to 15 states since relaunching its live events in 2023 after a pandemic hiatus.
Montana's next major cannabis industry event is the Big Sky Cannabis Conference in Billings this June, which typically draws 500-plus attendees from cultivation, retail, and ancillary sectors.
This article is based on original reporting by hightimes.com.
