Tractor Beam Honored at Fast Company's 2026 Innovation Festival

The soilpunk literary magazine incubated by Tractor Beverage Company receives its World Changing Ideas honor in New York City

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tractor Beam, the editorially independent speculative-fiction publication incubated by Tractor Beverage Company, was honored this week at Fast Company's World Changing Ideas reception, part of the 2026 Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City.

Tractor Beam was named an Honorable Mention in the General Excellence category of Fast Company's 2026 World Changing Ideas Awards, which recognize forward-thinking projects that use creativity and innovation to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. Tractor Beam is also featured among Fast Company's 2026 Community & Society honorees.

"Farmers make a daily investment in a future they may never see," said Duke Stump, Chief Brand and Product Officer at Tractor Beverage Company. "That act of optimism is at the heart of Tractor Beam. To see this idea honored alongside people and projects working to build a better world is deeply meaningful. It affirms something we have believed from the beginning: imagination belongs in the work of change."

Launched in 2025, Tractor Beam is a future farmer's almanac dedicated to soilpunk: radical visions of hopeful futures on Earth. Most almanacs tell readers what to expect. Tractor Beam asks: Which futures are worth growing toward?

Through original fiction, artwork and expert commentary, the publication explores provocative, optimistic ideas about farming, food, soil, climate and community. Its stories look beyond collapse and catastrophe, imagining futures rooted not in extraction or escape, but in regeneration. Expert annotations connect those imagined worlds to science, culture and ideas already taking root.

"People don't lack information; they lack hope," said Lana Z Porter, co-founder and editor of Tractor Beam. "Soilpunk treats soil not as a backdrop, but as the foundation of a thriving planet and a place from which entirely new worlds can grow."

"Our role is to bring the dreamers and the people making those dreams real into the same conversation," added Claire Gustavson, co-founder and editor of Tractor Beam. "Being recognized by Fast Company tells us that conversation matters and gives us the chance to bring more people in our community into it."

Since its launch, Tractor Beam has published more than 50 original works by award-winning and emerging writers and artists from around the world. Guest editors have included Jeff VanderMeer, Leah Thomas, Fatimah Asghar, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian and Sophie Strand.

For Tractor Beverage Company, supporting Tractor Beam reflects a belief that solving complex challenges requires practical action and cultural imagination. Healthy soil may be the foundation of a thriving food system, but stories help people see the future they are working toward.

The recognition comes as Tractor Beam prepares to launch its new "Hell or High" water issue with Clams Casino: A Soilpunk Variety Show on Tuesday, September 22, at Honey's in Brooklyn. Hosted by Tractor Beam co-founders and editors Lana Z Porter and Claire Gustavson, the evening will bring the publication's hopeful, future-facing storytelling to life through performance, conversation and community.

Explore Tractor Beam at tractorbeam.earth and view Fast Company's 2026 Community & Society honorees.

About Tractor Beam

Tractor Beam is a quarterly speculative-fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk: radical visions of hopeful futures on Earth. Incubated by Tractor Beverage Company and editorially independent, Tractor Beam publishes fiction and artwork exploring how humanity might build a thriving future rooted in healthy soil, regenerative agriculture and a deeper relationship with the natural world. Learn more at tractorbeam.earth.

About Tractor Beverage Company

Farmer-founded and employee-owned, Tractor is built on the belief that a better food system starts with the land and the people who care for it. Every beverage is crafted with USDA Certified Organic ingredients and a commitment to supporting soil health. Tractor makes drinks that taste great, deliver real impact and raise awareness of regenerative practices that nourish both the earth and the communities they sustain. For more information, visit drinktractor.com or follow @drinktractor on Instagram.

Media Contact

Chrystie Heimert
Tractor Beverage Company
802.338.2556
[email protected]

SOURCE Tractor Beverage Company