KRTV’s Shannon Newth created the Five Under 35 initiative to recognize young adults in Great Falls whose attitudes and actions are making our community an even better place to live. This is the seventh year recognizing young adults in the Great Falls community. Out of about 50 nominations this year, the final five have been selected.
Matthew Hunter spends most of his days creating and designing; he joined the Good Wood Guys when he moved to Great Falls from Florida two years ago.
“I knocked at the door here until they let me in,” Hunter joked.
It’s a big change from his job running an urban agriculture program outside of Orlando. He’s embraced the change in career, climate, and community.
“Great Falls really showed itself as something special to me,” Hunter said.
Hunter believes the best way to get connected in a new community is to get involved and that’s exactly what he’s done. “I think being engaged with something that matters to you is the important thing and from that you’ll meet people,” Hunter explained.
The 35-year-old spends his evenings and weekends at book clubs, participates in community sports, adventures outside with the Montana Wilderness Association, and attends Great Falls City 101 classes.
“Great Falls might not have as many things going on as a bigger city, but I find things that it does have going on have more depth than a lot of the stuff I found in Orlando.”
As part of the Five Under 35 program, each honoree is asked two questions, meant to put conversation and thought in our community. Those two questions are:
- What does Great Falls have going for it?
- How can Great Falls improve?
Hunter said people might have to dig a little, but there are people doing great things in Great Falls.
“A lot of the things people are doing aren’t as attended as they could be, so I would say if more people show up, that would be improvement,” Hunter said.
He added that he would love to see more healthy restaurant options in Great Falls.
