This year’s success marks a shift in strategy for the firm. For the first time, 42 Fast Buds managed the entire cultivation and selection process in-house, moving away from their traditional reliance on community-grown entries. The gamble paid off, with the team capturing 50% of the available podium positions and proving that their internal breeding cycles translate directly to competition-level quality.

Individual strains anchored the victory. Mendo Frost Auto took 1st place in the Indica category, a result of a rigorous genetic program that crossed the 2025 Autoflower World Cup standout Frostbanger Auto with the American Autoflower Cup winner Mendo Frost. Meanwhile, the company’s Champions Collection demonstrated the efficacy of its breeding approach, with Mango Frost Auto and Mango Cherry Runtz Auto securing podium spots in the Sativa category. The newcomer GMO Auto also signaled strong market potential, earning 3rd place in the Best New Autoflower category on the same day it launched. Veteran strain Gorilla Z Auto rounded out the haul, taking 2nd place in the Indica category and reinforcing its long-standing reputation in the industry.