Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, has announced that its annual FFA Future Leaders fundraiser generated more than $1 million this year. The achievement brings the program’s total fundraising contributions over the past five years to $5 million, strengthening efforts to help students pursue education, leadership opportunities and careers in agriculture and related industries.
The FFA Future Leaders initiative is part of Tractor Supply’s long-standing commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural professionals. Through scholarships, educational resources and practical learning experiences, the program helps reduce financial barriers for students preparing to enter fields that are essential to rural communities and the broader agricultural economy.
For scholarship recipient Sage Toews, who is studying at Kansas State University, the financial assistance has created opportunities to focus more on leadership, community involvement and professional development while continuing her education. The scholarship has helped ease the pressure of working long hours to cover educational expenses, allowing her to dedicate more time to activities that support her future career.
“Scholarship opportunities help alleviate the pressing need to work long hours to support my education and, in turn, allow me to dedicate more time to leadership, involvement and service,” Toews said.
She added that networking and participating in activities beyond the classroom have already proved valuable during her time at Kansas State University. Toews is working toward a career in food and agricultural policy, an area where professional relationships and collaboration play an important role.
“The connections I make now will undoubtedly serve me well as I work toward a career in food and agricultural policy, a field largely dependent on relationships,” she said.
Her experience highlights the broader purpose of the Future Leaders initiative: providing students with the resources and opportunities they need to develop professional skills, build networks and prepare for meaningful careers across the agricultural sector.
Tractor Supply Strengthens Its Longstanding FFA Partnership
Tractor Supply has supported the National FFA Organization since 1985, contributing more than $27 million to scholarships, grants, educational experiences and other programs designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed for future success.
The company’s partnership with FFA reflects its broader commitment to rural communities and the people who support America’s agricultural industry. By investing in students at different stages of their educational journeys, Tractor Supply helps strengthen the talent pipeline for farming, animal care, agricultural technology, engineering, skilled trades and other related professions.
The FFA Future Leaders fundraiser represents one important component of this ongoing relationship. In addition to financial assistance, Tractor Supply supports hands-on learning opportunities through local FFA chapters and helps students participate in major educational gatherings, including the National FFA Convention & Expo.
Joe Fell, vice president of merchandise operations at Tractor Supply and a member of the National FFA Foundation’s Sponsors’ Board, expressed appreciation for the customers and communities that contributed to the fundraising campaign.
“We are beyond grateful to our customers and local communities who rallied behind these students to help us reach our goal,” Fell said.
He emphasized that customer participation and community support are essential to making educational opportunities more accessible to aspiring agricultural leaders.
“Every donation is a direct investment in the future of rural America. Seeing our neighbors unite to remove financial barriers for these promising young leaders reminds us just how powerful this partnership is, and we can’t wait to see the incredible impact these scholarship recipients will make,” he added.
The fundraising milestone demonstrates how collaboration between businesses, customers, educational organizations and local communities can help create opportunities for students while supporting the long-term development of rural America.
FFA Future Leaders Provides Scholarships for Agricultural Careers
Launched in 2022, the FFA Future Leaders program provides scholarships to students pursuing education and training for careers in agriculture and related fields. The initiative offers $5,000 scholarships to students attending two-year programs or trade schools and $10,000 scholarships to FFA members pursuing agriculture-related studies through four-year programs.
These awards are designed to support students following a variety of educational and professional pathways. Agriculture depends on a broad range of skills, extending beyond traditional farming to include technical expertise, animal health, equipment maintenance, engineering, policy development and other specialized disciplines.
Since its launch, the program has supported more than 500 students preparing for careers in fields such as farming, welding, veterinary medicine, engineering and agricultural policy.
By helping students manage educational expenses, the scholarships can give recipients greater flexibility to participate in extracurricular activities, develop leadership abilities and gain practical experience. Such opportunities can be particularly valuable for students preparing to enter industries where technical knowledge, communication and collaboration are essential.
The initiative also supports the continued development of agricultural talent at a time when the industry relies on professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. From maintaining farm equipment to improving animal health and contributing to agricultural policy, these career paths help support the operations and communities that make up the agricultural economy.
Grants for Growing Supports Hands-On Agricultural Education
Beyond individual scholarships, Tractor Supply supports agricultural education through its Grants for Growing program, which provides funding to local FFA chapters for practical learning projects.
Customers can participate by purchasing a paper FFA emblem at checkout in Tractor Supply stores or through the company’s online platform. Participating FFA chapters can then apply for grants of up to $5,000 to support educational initiatives and improve their learning environments.
Eligible projects include developing new facilities, purchasing equipment and obtaining curriculum materials. These resources help students gain practical experience, strengthen technical skills and explore agricultural concepts beyond conventional classroom instruction.
Since Grants for Growing began in 2016, the program has awarded nearly 2,000 grants, benefiting more than 183,000 students nationwide.
The initiative complements the Future Leaders scholarship program by supporting both individual students and the educational organizations that prepare them for future careers. While scholarships help recipients pursue their studies, chapter grants can provide the facilities, tools and instructional resources needed to deliver hands-on agricultural learning.
Together, the programs reflect Tractor Supply’s approach to supporting agricultural education at multiple levels, from helping students pay for college or vocational training to enabling local chapters to expand their educational activities.
Supporting Student Participation at the National FFA Convention
Tractor Supply also helps FFA members access educational experiences outside their schools and communities. One of the major opportunities supported by the company is the National FFA Convention & Expo, which brings together students from across the country to learn about agriculture, participate in competitions and connect with fellow members.
For the 2026 convention, scheduled for October 21-24 in Indianapolis, Tractor Supply provided travel assistance to eight FFA chapters. The supported chapters are Bassett FFA in Virginia; Cookeville FFA in Cookeville, Tennessee; Covington FFA in Covington, Tennessee; Golden Valley FFA in Bakersfield, California; Hendersonville FFA in Hendersonville, Tennessee; Lebanon FFA in Lebanon, Tennessee; Nettleton FFA in Mississippi; and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton FFA in Minnesota.
Travel assistance can help reduce the costs associated with attending a national event, making it easier for students to participate in educational activities that might otherwise be difficult for their chapters to afford.
Ava MacKorell, an FFA reporter and junior at Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, said she was looking forward to attending the National FFA Convention for the first time.
“Attending the National FFA Convention for the first time is something I have looked forward to since joining FFA. I’m excited to meet students from across the country, experience national competitions and learn even more about agriculture,” MacKorell said.
She also thanked Tractor Supply for helping fund the experience for her chapter and other FFA students. MacKorell explained that the opportunity supports her ambitions to become an equine nutritionist or equine veterinarian.
Her goals illustrate the range of career interests represented among FFA members and the importance of providing students with opportunities to explore specialized areas of agriculture and animal care.
Connecting FFA Students With Communities Nationwide
Tractor Supply’s involvement at the National FFA Convention extends beyond travel assistance. The company hosts an expo booth and participates in panel discussions, giving students opportunities to learn more about agricultural careers and engage with industry representatives.
For the past 12 years, Tractor Supply has also sold a limited-edition T-shirt associated with the convention. Proceeds from these sales are distributed to FFA chapters across the country to support their programs and activities.
The company’s support continues throughout the year at the local level. Tractor Supply team members welcome nearby FFA chapters into stores for activities and fundraising events that bring students, customers and community members together.
These local initiatives help strengthen connections between young agricultural leaders and the communities they serve. They also give students opportunities to share their interests, participate in community activities and build relationships with people who support agricultural education.
Investing in the Future of Rural America
Tractor Supply’s latest fundraising achievement reinforces its commitment to helping students access education, develop leadership skills and prepare for careers that support agriculture and rural communities.
With more than $1 million raised during this year’s FFA Future Leaders campaign and a five-year fundraising total of $5 million, the program continues to expand its contribution to agricultural education. Combined with the company’s more than $27 million in support for FFA since 1985, its scholarships, chapter grants, convention assistance and community activities form a broad effort to encourage the next generation of agricultural professionals.
Through continued collaboration with customers, local communities and FFA, Tractor Supply is helping students overcome financial obstacles, explore career opportunities and gain experiences that can shape their futures.
The company’s initiatives demonstrate how sustained investment in agricultural education can support aspiring professionals while strengthening the skills, leadership and community connections needed for the future of rural America.
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