Chadwick Armstrong is a fifth-generation farmer at Armstrong Farms, a family operation in Henry County that has been farming for more than 100 years. Today, the multigenerational farm grows cotton and peanuts while also raising cattle.Peanuts play a vital role in the farm’s success, accounting for 1,500 acres, or roughly one-third of the total acreage planted each year.
Family has always played a major role in Chadwick’s life. Working alongside multiple generations on the family farm has allowed him to learn valuable lessons from both his father and grandfather, Joe Armstrong.
“Growing up, I was able to spend time on the farm with my grandfather before he passed away four years ago. He instilled a lot of the values and morals in me that I carry today. Getting to ride with him to check on things around the farm and just have conversations about how much has changed since he started farming was really awesome.”
While his grandfather provided wisdom and perspective, Chadwick says his father has had the greatest impact on his career.
“My dad is the reason I’m involved in agriculture, and there was never any pressure from him for me to do it. It was always an option, and he would’ve supported anything I chose to do, but he’s the reason I’m involved.”
After graduating from high school, Chadwick attended Auburn University, where he earned a degree in Agricultural Business and Economics.
“It was a great experience. Auburn has a great agricultural school, and I met a lot of great people there. But even from a young age, I knew I wanted to come back to the farm and continue the legacy.”
Like many farmers across Alabama, Chadwick has seen firsthand the challenges facing agriculture today. Low commodity prices combined with extremely high input costs continue to create uncertainty for farm operations, making profitability increasingly difficult despite farmers’ hard work and dedication.
To further his knowledge of the peanut industry, he decided to apply for the Peanut Leadership Academy (PLA).
Armstrong is a member of the XIV Peanut Leadership Academy (PLA) class. He was inspired to apply by his father, Dale, who participated in the second PLA class in the 1990s.
“I’d heard him talk about it briefly over the years, and I always knew that he enjoyed his experience. When I saw the application open, I mentioned to him that I was thinking about doing it, and he encouraged me to apply,” Chadwick said.
Since joining the program, Chadwick has enjoyed building relationships with fellow farmers and industry leaders from across the peanut belt.
“Meeting the other farmers and people involved in the industry has been great,” he said. “Networking, sharing ideas, and learning about different operations has probably been my favorite part.”
Looking ahead, Chadwick hopes to continue farming the right way, caring for the land, and ensuring future generations have the same opportunities he has enjoyed. He recognizes that agriculture isn’t always easy, but he believes the rewards far outweigh the challenges.
“It’s certainly not an easy way to make a living,” he said. “But it is rewarding, and you’ve really got to want it. You can’t halfway do it; you’ve got to be all in.”
Rooted in family, faith, and a love for the land, Chadwick’s story reflects the values that have sustained Armstrong Farms for more than a century. Through his involvement in the Peanut Leadership Academy, he is gaining new perspectives, building relationships across the peanut industry, and developing the skills needed to be an effective advocate for agriculture. Combined with the lessons passed down from the generations before him, those experiences are helping prepare Chadwick to carry on his family’s legacy while helping lead Alabama’s peanut industry into the future.
Chadwick with his father, Dale Armstrong (Left Photo). Chadwick with his grandfather, Joe Armstrong, as a child (Right Photo).