From: Kacey Watson
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — The nation’s top young farm family is anchored in Alabama agriculture, with ties to Auburn University and Alabama Extension that span generations and continue to shape their operation today.
The American Farm Bureau Federation named College of Agriculture alums Drew and Lauren Wendland the 2026 Achievement Award winners. The award announcement is part of the grand finale of the federation’s annual convention, which was held in January in Anaheim, California.
“My family and I were honored to represent Alabama,” Drew said. “We were definitely surprised to win, because there were so many strong competitors. We are very blessed to have had the opportunity to do this together as a family.”
Family Traditions
The Wendlands, operators of the Autauga Farming Company, won Alabama’s state competition before earning top honors nationally.
Their success did not appear out of thin air. For more than a century, the family has tended land in Autauga and Montgomery counties. With their main office nestled in Autaugaville, Alabama, Autauga Farming Company has played a central role in the agricultural community since the early 1900s. The operation includes cattle, cotton, hay, seed crops and feed grains of corn, oats and wheat.
In recent years, Drew, his brother, Dan, and their father, Andy, have worked side by side, each overseeing a piece of the farm’s daily operations. With a laugh, Drew recounted his earliest jobs on the family farm, contrasting those beginnings with the responsibilities he carries today.
“My first job here was picking up sticks,” Drew said. “Dad started all of us kids with small tasks that eventually led to bigger responsibilities. That’s the beauty of this place, and I have grown with it.”
Support from Alabama Extension
While Drew’s life has always revolved around the family farm, he did spend time away to attend college. In 2016, Drew graduated from the Auburn College of Agriculture with a degree in agronomy and soils. There, he learned how to use research to guide sound management across the operation.
“I can say I am a person who utilizes my degree on a regular basis,” Drew said. “While Dan looks after the cattle production, I handle the grasslands and row crops. So, understanding the science behind nutrient management, weed control and crop protection helps me make more informed decisions.”
While Drew uses the practical knowledge and skills from his degree at Auburn, he also keeps up with the ever-changing advancements. His mantra is to stay future‑focused without losing sight of tradition. He credits Alabama Extension for helping him stay updated on the latest trends that he can implement on the farm.
Drew said incorporating precision agriculture practices has allowed his operation to maximize efficiency and increase outputs. He works with partners like the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Alabama Extension to apply science-based recommendations into practical decisions.
Scott Graham, Alabama Extension cotton entomologist and assistant professor at Auburn, teams up with Drew regularly to test and apply research‑based practices.
“Our primary goal is to help farmers like Drew in reducing their input costs while preserving and increasing yields,” Graham said. “With Drew, we have even been able to conduct some on-farm trials, including variety trials and fertility research.”
A lifelong participant in Alabama agriculture, Drew is also a 4‑H alumnus, carrying forward the same values of stewardship and community that have long defined the operation.
Their Turn to Tend the Land
Just as the Wendlands hold tight to the traditions of farming, their Auburn roots run deep as well. Drew’s great-grandfather, father and some of his siblings all graduated from the College of Agriculture.
In addition to the Achievement Award, the Wendlands have a history of receiving recognition for their agricultural endeavors. Drew’s brother, Dan, represented the Wendland family and Autauga Farming Company this spring when he accepted the 2026 Beef Improvement Federation Outstanding Commercial Producer of the Year award. Plus, two of his relatives are members of the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor, administered by the Auburn University Agricultural Alumni Association.
Arguably the most important outcome of Drew’s time at Auburn was meeting his wife, Lauren. Their love story began on The Plains and eventually led them back to the farm where they’re now raising three growing boys — Mills, Smith and Rhett.
For several years, Drew and Lauren have served as active members of the Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers program. That same commitment to the organization paved the way for Drew and his family to earn the Achievement Award.
“Our family farm has been here since 1919, so I think about the legacy aspect of it,” Drew said. “I think about this farm not as my own, but as if it is just my turn to tend this land. Our family takes pride in the generations before us. My hope is to provide the opportunity for my sons, nieces, nephews and the families of our team to take their turn when the time comes.”
