How One Educator Helped Shape Autoflowers - and Now Helps Shape the Cup

An educator, cultivator, and community leader shaping the next chapter of autoflowers

The American Autoflower Cup is proud to welcome Jordan Harker, founder of Autoflower Network, to the judging panel for the 2026 edition. His involvement marks an important step forward for the Cup and for the entire autoflower community. For the first time, the world’s most respected autoflower competition partners directly with the world’s longest-running and most influential autoflower education platform.

As autoflower genetics continue advancing in terpene quality, potency, structural expression, and overall complexity, so does the importance of rigorous, knowledgeable evaluation. Jordan brings that blend of knowledge, integrity, and community insight that the Cup values.

Over a decade of dedicated autoflower education

Jordan has spent more than ten years building, strengthening, and guiding the Autoflower Network, which has grown into the internet’s largest learning space devoted to autoflower cannabis. What began as a personal passion evolved into a leadership role that now oversees the platform’s operations, finances, educational initiatives, and long-term direction.

At its core, Autoflower Network is a working archive of real grow knowledge: diaries, troubleshooting threads, data comparisons, experimental projects, breeding discussions, and thousands of grower-to-grower exchanges. Jordan has protected and expanded this foundation, ensuring that the community remains open, accessible, and rooted in authentic experience rather than trends or marketing.

From hobbyist to commercial grower - and back to the community

Before taking on leadership of the Autoflower Network, Jordan spent four years in Colorado’s commercial cannabis space. There, he managed tens of thousands of plants from clone to harvest, gaining firsthand insight into large-scale cultivation and the complexities of crop management.

This combination - professional-scale experience paired with community learning - gives Jordan a rare perspective. He understands what matters in a small home grow, what challenges a breeder faces while selecting phenotypes, and what commercial teams look for in consistency and performance. That range of experience makes him uniquely prepared to evaluate entries at our 4th edition.

A trained eye for judging every category

This year’s Cup will evaluate autoflowers across six key categories and we´ll continue the tradition with the community vote for the Best Autoflower Breeder and Highest THC - lab approved and Best Hash. 

Jordan’s approach is analytical yet grounded. He knows how subtle environmental shifts influence terpenes, how structure and resin reveal genetic potential, and why smoke quality tells the whole story. His feedback style is honest, precise, and respectful of the growers behind each entry.

The Cultivators Club: data-focused testing for real-world growers

Jordan is also the founder of The Cultivators Club, a respected product-testing initiative that collaborates with breeders, lighting manufacturers, nutrient companies, and cultivation technology developers. The Club is known for generating real-world data - results drawn from actual grows rather than controlled simulations.

By analyzing how tools, nutrients, and genetics perform in practical settings, Jordan has helped countless growers make informed decisions. This commitment to transparency mirrors the American Autoflower Cup’s own mission to keep evaluation fair, rigorous, and grounded in experience.

Educational spotlight during the 2026 Awards Ceremony

In addition to judging, Jordan will take part at the educational sessions during the Awards Ceremony - hosted by Jeremy Norrie. Joined by respected cultivators, breeders, and industry specialists, the founder of the Autoflower Network will contribute to a series of sessions aimed at deepening the community’s understanding of autoflowers.

Topics will include:

• trends in modern autoflower breeding
• data-driven cultivation strategies
• sustainable grow practices
• the role of community-based learning
• the future direction of autoflower genetics

These segments are designed to offer value beyond the competition itself, giving attendees insight they can take home and apply to their own gardens.

A strong step forward for 2026

With Jordan Harker joining the judging lineup, the American Autoflower Cup enters a new era - one shaped by knowledge, collaboration, and a deeper connection to the growers who built the autoflower movement. His presence brings expertise, authenticity, and leadership to the judging process and enriches the educational programming that defines this year’s event.

For growers, breeders, creators, and enthusiasts attending in January, Jordan’s participation ensures a competition rooted in integrity and shaped by the voices that have guided autoflowers from their early days to their current rise.

The future of autoflowers continues to grow - and we are proud to grow alongside it.

Join us! The tickets are on Eventbrite!