Tractor Beam Honored at Fast Company Innovation Festival

Tractor Beverage Company’s editorially independent speculative-fiction publication, Tractor Beam, has been recognized for its innovative approach to storytelling and its commitment to a hopeful future. The publication, launched in 2025, was honored at Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas reception, part of the 2026 Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City.

Duke Stump, Chief Brand and Product Officer at Tractor Beverage Company, expressed the significance of the recognition. “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.”

Tractor Beam is a quarterly speculative-fiction publication dedicated to soilpunk, a genre that explores radical visions of hopeful futures on Earth. Unlike traditional almanacs that predict the future, Tractor Beam asks: Which futures are worth growing toward? Through original fiction, artwork, and expert commentary, the publication delves into provocative, optimistic ideas about farming, food, soil, climate, and community.

Claire Gustavson, also a co-founder and editor, added, “Our role is to bring the dreamers and the people making those dreams real into the same conversation. 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 notable figures such as Jeff VanderMeer, Leah Thomas, Fatimah Asghar, Patricia Ononiwu Kaishian, and Sophie Strand.

Tractor Beam’s recognition comes as the publication prepares to launch its new “Hell or High” water issue with Clams Casino: A Soilpunk Variety Show on 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 engagement.

Tractor Beam’s mission aligns with Tractor Beverage Company’s belief that solving complex challenges requires both 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.