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Tractor Supply Launches Next Phase of $5 Million Scholarship Fund to Empower Future Rural Leaders

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$1 million in scholarships awarded to 2025-26 class of FFA Future Leaders

Fundraiser to support the next class of scholarship winners begins August 4

Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced the third class of FFA Future Leaders Scholarship recipients in conjunction with the kickoff of the 2025 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship Fundraiser. The 2025-26 scholarship class includes a total of 146 students from 38 states with intended majors such as agribusiness, welding, agricultural communications, construction, fire sciences and more. The FFA Future Leaders Scholarship Fund—the largest of its kind—awards $5,000 scholarships to students attending a two-year program or trade school, and $10,000 scholarships to students pursuing agriculture-related studies in four-year programs.

Tractor Supply Launches Next Phase of $5 Million Scholarship Fund to Empower Future Rural Leaders
Tractor Supply Launches Next Phase of $5 Million Scholarship Fund to Empower Future Rural Leaders

In rural communities across the country, students often face limited access to financial aid, career resources and exposure to emerging agricultural technologies or skilled trades. While the overall educational attainment of rural residents has increased significantly over the last 60 years, it remains behind that of urban residents. In 2023, 21.4% of the rural population earned a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 36.4% for the non-rural population.

The Future Leaders Scholarship Fund is specifically designed to address these gaps by investing in high-potential students who will shape the future of rural America. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, among STEM graduates, rural students (29.1%) and their suburban counterparts (24.0%) were most likely to major in biological and agricultural sciences.

“We are thrilled to announce this year’s scholarship recipients simultaneously with the kick-off of our next fundraiser, as there is no greater motivation than seeing the impact of these dollars in real time,” said Marti Skold-Jordan, Executive Director of the Tractor Supply Foundation and National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board member. “This class of Future Leaders further raises the bar with their unique interests, impressive goals and exceptional academic records. What hasn’t changed, though, is that financial challenges remain a hurdle to achieving their dreams Out Here. For the last three years, we have delivered on our goal of raising at least $1 million to break down those barriers, and we hope to keep that streak going this year.”

Beginning today and extending through August 16, customers can donate at checkout in Tractor Supply stores or online at TractorSupply.com to support the 2026-27 class of scholarship recipients. The Tractor Supply Foundation, in partnership with the National FFA Organization, established the Future Leaders Scholarship in 2022 with a $5 million commitment over five years, making it the largest agriculture scholarship fund of its kind and awarding 435 scholarships to date.

The 2024 fundraiser generated more than $1 million to support the current class of scholarship recipients, which includes Kaylee Jones from Sandy, Oregon. Kaylee will attend Oklahoma State University in the fall to study agribusiness. She hopes to pursue a career in agricultural law. Throughout high school, Kaylee worked full time to help support her family. Her $10,000 Future Leaders Scholarship will help relieve some of the financial burden of attending college.

“With your help, I am a step closer to my goal of affording college debt-free and being able to pursue both agriculture and law worry-free,” she said.

Wiley Proctor from Aldrich, Missouri, is another 2025-26 scholarship recipient. He will attend Lindenwood University at Ozark Technical Community College–Springfield to study fire science.

“This scholarship will help me achieve my goal of graduating from college with zero debt….and is going to help me in pursuing my dreams of becoming a firefighter,” he said.

Additional $5,000 scholarship recipients include:

  • Preston Gant from Fayette, Alabama. He will attend Bevill State Community College to study Diesel Mechanics and hopes to work in Hydraulic Mechanics.
  • Joe Horn from Mount Solon, Virginia. He will attend a two-year program at the University of Northwestern Ohio to study agricultural engineering. He hopes to focus on agricultural equipment technology to pursue a career in that field.
  • Carter Smith, from Middleburg, Pennsylvania. Carter will attend the Pennsylvania College of Technology to study civil engineering. He plans to work as a ready-mix concrete field technician.
  • Hallie Southards from Wray, Colorado. She will attend Western Nebraska Community College-Sidney Campus to study avionics. Hallie hopes to pursue a career as an aviation mechanic.

The third class of FFA Future Leaders also includes 54 students who received $10,000 scholarships to pursue agriculture-related four-year majors, including:

  • Elleigh Fisher from North Platte , Nebraska. She will be a senior at Chadron State College where she is studying biology and plant and soil science. She plans to pursue a career in agronomy.
  • Grant Frierson from Paris, Texas. In the fall, he will be a freshman at Texas A & M University studying agribusiness. He hopes to pursue a career in commodity trading.
  • Lillian Morgan from Afton, Virginia. She is a rising sophomore at Oklahoma State University where she is studying agricultural business. Her goal is to use her education to start her own successful business.
  • Kaden Pham, from Monett, Missouri. He will attend Missouri State University to study agricultural management and hopes to work in agri-business and supply chain management.

Scholarship recipients will also have the opportunity to interview for career opportunities at Tractor Supply stores or distribution centers while pursuing their education. Additionally, Tractor Supply has earmarked internships at its Store Support Center in Brentwood, Tennessee, and Distribution Centers around the country, for scholarship recipients.

“The National FFA Organization is deeply grateful for our scholarship partners like Tractor Supply Company for their continued commitment to cultivating the next generation of agricultural leaders,” said Jim Williams, Executive Director of Development at the National FFA Foundation. “By providing financial assistance to individual FFA members, we can help alleviate some of the financial burdens those FFA members may face as they explore opportunities beyond high school that will give them the tools to make a lasting impact on their local communities.”

For more information on the 2026-27 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship, visit https://www.ffa.org/participate/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/.

$10,000 Scholarship Winners (Four-Year Majors)

StateCityFirst NameLast NameInstitution NameIntended Major
ALElkmontJessaUseryAuburn UniversityAgricultural Communications
AZPrescott ValleyHaydenMorganUniversity of ArizonaAgricultural Education/Animal Science
CACoalingaSamanthaSelliersKansas State UniversityAgricultural Communications
GAHiawasseeLoftinTurpinYoung Harris CollegeAgribusiness
IDMontpelierRebeccaJensonUtah State UniversityAccounting
ILFairburyKamberKilgusUniversity of Wisconsin – PlattevilleAgribusiness
ILJacksonvilleEllaMarieBruereSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleAgribusiness
ILPecatonicaEmmaDalyUniversity of Wisconsin – PlattevilleAgricultural Communications
INWest College CornerPaytenLoguePurdue UniversityAgribusiness
IAAlbiaTrellAmossOklahoma State University – Main CampusAgricultural Business
IAGrand MoundRachelClarkIowa State UniversityAgribusiness
IAState CenterLilyHendersonIowa State UniversityBusiness
KSBonner SpringsLeannaLarsonUniversity of St. MaryAgribusiness Management
KSBurlingtonBrynnaWilsonKansas State UniversityFinance
KSErieCodyElliottKansas State University at SalinaAerospace Engineering
KYGeorgetownHalleHudnallMorehead State UniversityAgribusiness
MDKeymarRiannaChaneyOklahoma State University – Main CampusAgricultural Communications
MIMerrillKaylaGowardMichigan State UniversityAgribusiness
MNLester PrairieGracieRossSouth Dakota State UniversityAgricultural Business
MNWinthropEdenMesserliSouth Dakota State UniversityAgricultural Business
MOBucklinLeahaSmithUniversity of Missouri – ColumbiaAgribusiness Management
MODittmerMacieBellSoutheast Missouri State University – Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher EducationAgribusiness
MOMonettKadenPhamMissouri State UniversityAgribusiness Management
MOShelbinaSophieDovinNorthwest Missouri State UniversityAgribusiness
NEBlairKatelynMitchellUniversity of Nebraska at LincolnEconomics
NECortlandReaganMillerNorthwest Missouri State UniversityAgribusiness
NEFremontCorbinCarlsonUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaBusiness Administration
NENorth PlatteElleighFisherChadron State CollegeBiology
NMCarrizozoBryanaVillanuevaEastern New Mexico UniversityAgriculture
NCRaleighColinBrownUniversity of North Carolina at WilmingtonAgribusiness
OHAnnaClaireBrunsonThe Ohio State UniversityAgribusiness
OHSenecavilleAlexxCombsMuskingum UniversityAccounting
OKChattanoogaRossTurnerConnors State CollegeAgricultural Economics
OKFossBaileyBeggsSouthwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAgribusiness
OKYukonBrooklynBeamsOklahoma State UniversityAgricultural Communications
ORSandyKayleeJonesOklahoma State UniversityAgribusiness
ORSandyFaithKoesterUtah State UniversityNursing
ORYamhillMadisonGregorGeorge Fox UniversityBusiness Management
PAParkesburgAlisonFaganNorth Carolina State UniversityAgribusiness
SDEthanMadisynRaymondSouth Dakota State UniversityAgricultural Communications
TNSmyrnaEllaHastyUniversity of Tennessee at MartinAgricultural Business
TXBarryBradenHerrmannSam Houston State UniversityKinesiology
TXCorsicanaAudreyLibalTexas A & M UniversityAnimal Science
TXGladewaterJoeRayLouisiana Tech UniversityAgribusiness
TXHarperKinseyKeyTexas A & M UniversityAgribusiness
TXKellerMakenzieWhiteheadTexas A & M UniversityAgricultural Leadership & Development
TXLiberty HillEllieHertTexas A & M UniversityAgricultural Communications
TXParisGrantFriersonTexas A & M UniversityAgribusiness
TXSplendoraLindseySessumTexas Tech UniversityAgribusiness
TXWheelerLandryDukesWest Texas A&M UniversityAccounting
VAAftonLillianMorganOklahoma State University – Main CampusAgribusiness
WAUniontownHollyHeitstumanUniversity of WyomingAgricultural Business
WIMonticelloDerekSchwartzlowUniversity of Wisconsin – PlattevilleAgribusiness
WYCheyenneHayleeBrucknerUniversity of WyomingBiology

$5,000 Scholarship Winners (Trade Schools/Two-Year Programs)

StateCityFirst NameLast NameInstitution NameIntended Major
ALFayettePrestonGantBevill State Community CollegeDiesel Mechanics
ALFlorenceKerwynUnderwoodNorthwest-Shoals Community College – Muscle ShoalsWelding
ALWoodlandLillianRobertsonAuburn UniversityPre-medicine-Pre-Pharmacy
ARGravettePerriMillerNorthwest Arkansas Community CollegeRadiation Therapy
ARMcCroryBreannaDewittArkansas State University – NewportDental Hygiene
CAKingsburgDillenPicquetteWestern Welding AcademyWelding
COWrayHallieSouthardsWestern Nebraska Community College – Sidney CampusAvionics
IDDaytonIanHatchBridgerland Technical CollegeIndustrial Technology
ILAddievilleMakennaGabrovicKaskaskia CollegeNursing
ILAnnaKatelynneHeinrichsShawnee Community CollegeCriminal Justice
ILAvonRyleighHallBlack Hawk College – East CampusVeterinary Technology
ILEffinghamMargaretWenteEastern Illinois University at Lake Land CollegeDental Hygiene
ILElizabethtownAdrionnaPottsWest Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeAllied Health
ILHinckleyNatalieWilkeningWaubonsee Community CollegeFire Science
ILPoloKalinaWillhiteSauk Valley Community CollegeEarly Childhood Development
INAtlantaMarshallFryeMaranatha Baptist UniversityConstruction
INKirklinAllieClarkHobart Institute of Welding TechnologyWelding
INWadesvilleBryceDyehouseParkland CollegeDiesel Mechanics
IAGarnerNolanRaukIowa Lakes Community College – Emmetsburg CampusAgricultural Mechanics
IAGarnerZacharyRobertsNorthwest Iowa Community CollegeDiesel Mechanics
IALettsBenjaminCoderMidwest Technical InstituteWelding
KSAltonAddisonPooreColby Community CollegeDental Hygiene
KSBeloitColeJonesMissouri Welding InstituteWelding
KSBucklinHarleeTilleyColby Community CollegeEducation
KSBurr OakColtonMcCutcheonNorth Central Kansas Technical CollegeConstruction Science
KSConcordiaRussellAlexanderCloud County Community CollegeConstruction Science
KSParkerMadisonStahlFort Scott Community CollegeFloriculture
KSScammonMadisenRandNortheastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeAgribusiness Management
KSTribuneKylerWilcoxFort Hays Tech NorthwestDiesel Mechanics
KYCox’s CreekMaddieDieterlenElizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeMedical Technology
LABerniceJorjaThorntonNorthwest Louisiana Technical CollegeInstrumentation
LAJenningsCamiLeJeuneLouisiana State University at EuniceMedical Technology
MICasevilleAddisonElenbaumFerris State UniversityHealth Science Studies
MIHastingsKassandraHartonKellogg Community CollegeWelding
MIOwossoLukeBartaMichigan State UniversityAgricultural Mechanics
MIOwossoMadalynnNewellLansing Community CollegeAnimal Biology
MIPort HopeEmmaPerezMacomb Community College – Center CampusBusiness
MNHinckleySamanthaReedPine Technical and Community CollegeWelding
MNHutchinsonKellenNelsonCentral Lakes College at StaplesWelding
MNJacksonJamieEdlinLake Area Technical CollegeConstruction Science
MNPark RapidsBellaVingeRochester Community and Technical CollegeRadiation Therapy
MNRussellGwendolynSerreynLake Area Technical CollegeAutomotive Technology
MSJayessTalenBoydSouthwest Mississippi Community CollegeGeneral Studies
MSRienziJadenHodgeNortheast Mississippi Community CollegeIndustrial Management Systems
MOAldrichWileyProctorLindenwood University at Ozark Technical Community College – SpringfieldFire Science
MOAppleton CityAaronMcClureIron Eagle Welding AcademyWelding
MOFredericktownLayneeKingMineral Area CollegeGeneral Studies
MOMoraTylerHowardState Technical College of MissouriAutomotive Collision Technology
MOStewartsvilleNatalyaSpragueNorth Central Missouri CollegeRadiation Therapy
MOWestboroJohnHarmsState Technical College of MissouriDiesel Mechanics
MTCorvallisBayleeWilliamsonThe University of MontanaNursing
MTMiles CityBrettGrubaWestern Dakota Technical CollegeElectronic Education
MTPlentywoodTessaHowardMontana State University – BillingsMedical Technology
NEBattle CreekGracieHitzNortheast Community CollegeEarly Childhood Development
NEBlue SpringsEmmaSpencerSoutheast Community College – BeatriceAthletic Training
NEDodgeJosephBlahaNortheast Community CollegeWelding
NEJohnsonHoldenBerglundSoutheast Community College – MilfordNot Declared
NEScribnerWyattRangeloffSoutheast Community College – MilfordDiesel Mechanics
NESewardDylanHochsteinSoutheast Community College – MilfordAgricultural Mechanics
NEStuartMaKaylaMenkeMitchell Technical CollegeNursing
NESuttonLeahCoolSoutheast Community College – MilfordDiesel Mechanics
NYStanleyLucasFleigAlfred State CollegeDiesel Mechanics
NCSeven SpringsLandonCarterKentucky Welding InstituteWelding
NDMinotGracieRauschenbergerBismarck State CollegeGraphics Communications
OHJacksonKassidySicklesBuckeye Hills Career Center, Vinton County High SchoolSurgical Technology
OHMansfieldCarsonSecriskeyLincoln College of Technology – IndianapolisCNC Machining and Manufacturing
OHRacineChristopherHayeUniversity of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College-VA Med. Ctr.Industrial Systems
OHRacineNathanialNeroHocking CollegeFire Science
OKCowetaKileyBellerTulsa Community CollegeMedical Technology
OKLamontChristianWallsOSU ITAgricultural Mechanics
OKSoperHelen KateCliftonParis Junior CollegeAllied Health
ORAstoriaAubreyAnnJonesClatsop Community CollegeMedical Technology
ORWinstonErinMincherUmpqua Community CollegeDental Hygiene
PABurgettstownMackenzieMitchellPennsylvania State University – New KensingtonRadiation Therapy
PACarlisleKarinaHalliseyHarrisburg Area Community CollegeHealth Science Studies
PAMiddleburgCarterSmithPennsylvania College of TechnologyCivil Engineering
PATrout RunCiaraKieserCommonwealth University of PennsylvaniaNursing
SCCherawSaraDixonFrancis Marion UniversityNursing
SCPagelandSkylarMcMahanFlorence Darlington Technical CollegeRadiation Therapy
SDMennoJaxenMettlerState Technical College of MissouriAgricultural Mechanics
SDPlatteCoyBultsmaMitchell Technical CollegeConstruction Science
SDSpearfishAlexisHoganSoutheast Technical InstituteNursing
TXHempsteadCole-DavidWoodBlinn Junior CollegeConstruction Science
TXHoweTysenLarsonSoutheastern Oklahoma State University at Grayson College South CampusElectrical Engineering
UTCedarElizaHeatonEvans Hairstyling College – Cedar CityCosmetology
VAMount SolonJoeHornUniversity of Northwestern OhioAgricultural Engineering
VAPenhookLaylaWillieFerrum CollegeEnvironmental Science
WAKennewickDrewSagaserColumbia Basin CollegeFire Science
WVGlenwoodEmmaDealMarshall UniversityNursing
WVMartinsburgAddisonJamesBlue Ridge Community and Technical CollegeNursing
WISpartaTaylorSchendelWestern Technical CollegeBusiness Administration
WYLaramieSommerNitchmanWyoTech – LaramieWelding

About Tractor Supply Company

For more than 85 years, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO) has been passionate about serving the needs of recreational farmers, ranchers, homeowners, gardeners, pet enthusiasts and all those who enjoy living Life Out Here. Tractor Supply is the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the U.S., ranking 293 on the Fortune 500. The Company’s more than 50,000 Team Members are known for delivering legendary service and helping customers pursue their passions, whether that means being closer to the land, taking care of animals or living a hands-on, DIY lifestyle. In store and online, Tractor Supply provides what customers need – anytime, anywhere, any way they choose at the low prices they deserve.

As of June 29, 2024, the Company operated 2,254 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states. For more information on Tractor Supply, visit www.tractorsupply.com .

Tractor Supply Company also owns and operates Petsense by Tractor Supply, a small-box pet specialty supply retailer providing products and services for pet owners. As of June 29, 2024, the Company operated 205 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information on Petsense by Tractor Supply, visit www.Petsense.com .

Contact:

Mary Winn Pilkington – Media Contact – corporatecommunications@tractorsupply.com – (615) 440-4212

Source: Tractor Supply Company