Alabama teen's 'self discipline and hard work' earns him entrepreneurship award

Austin Andrews earns the BCA Entrepreneur Award in 2015

Austin Andrews created Sporty Citrus two years ago. As founder and chief executive officer, he faces all the challenges of any newly formed business, from product development, to website oversight, service runs, and keeping his pricing competitive but adequate enough to cover expenses and make payroll.

Andrews operates a citrus tree service company. He’s been successful so far and seeks to grow his business by word of mouth and by advertising his Website, www.sportycitrus.com.

His current goal is to save enough to make his first major capital equipment purchase.

“I want to buy a pickup truck,” Andrews said.

The only thing is Andrews’ mom and dad will have to actually buy the truck and if they get one he won’t be able to drive it until October because that’s when he turns 16.

That’s correct. Austin Andrews is 15 and started Sporty Citrus when he was 13.

His gritty determination last weekend earned public recognition as the Business Council of Alabama’s Distinguished Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2015.

The award was presented at a BCA board of directors meeting at the Marriott Grand Hotel & Spa at Point Clear by BCA President and CEO William J. Canary.

“The best teacher is other people’s experience,” Canary said.

The Orange Beach entrepreneur balances school and serving customers. Andrews selects trees, digs the hole, and plants them in his customer’s locations of choice: “I plant citrus trees for people, sign contracts, and take care of them for one year,” Andrews said.

He even advises those in northern climates how to grow oranges, lemons, and grapefruits in pots. “I’m just as passionate about helping others enjoy their fruit as I am enjoying my own,” he says on his website.

Andrews likes being his own boss. Ever since he was a “little kid” citrus trees have been part of his life when his father, motivational speaker and author Andy Andrews, and his mother, Polly, started buying and growing citrus trees.

Andy Andrews, naturally, is proud of his son for his get-up-and-go and also for the tangible lessons of life he’s experiencing. “One of the things he’s learning is that if he treats people like they would love to be treated, if you have manners and have a grateful spirit, people will patronize your business,” Andy Andrews said.

“He’s really learned that problems can be an asset, if you don’t turn away from them, if you figure out how to deal with them, how to help people work with their problems, you can create a valuable business,” Andy Andrews said. “What he is doing now, helping people grow citrus trees is just amazing. People in Canada, Minnesota, in Colorado, they are growing citrus.”

At 15, Austin Andrews is already an accomplished and calm public speaker. “Mom and Dad have worked hard to instill the importance of self-discipline and hard work,” Austin Andrews told the BCA board.

Austin Andrews’ goal is to work for himself, just like he’s doing now. As for Sporty Citrus, “It probably will lead to other things,” he said.