One of the highlights of being the executive director of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation is to plan events that give back and support our neighbors and communities, such as the Earth Week clean-up in April. While planning this event, I, of course, thought about FFA. In the past few years, FFA chapters in Middle Tennessee have been an integral part of our Earth Week activities.
Our team loves engaging with FFA members because it provides learning experiences to them, and we can use the extra hands when planting over 200 trees or clearing out invasive species. I began thinking about all of the ways we engage with FFA and thought this might spark others to think about their engagement with members and chapters.
We engage with chapters all over the U.S. and provide the usual and not-so-usual ways to give chapters experiences they will remember.
- In December of 2024, we brought John Bowne FFA (pictured below) to our investor day at the Nasdaq, providing the opportunity to network with over 200 investor companies.
- We provided funding to chapters devastated by hurricanes.
- We surprised chapters with funding to the National FFA Convention & Expo.
- We asked Shelby FFA in North Carolina to share their poultry knowledge with a Make-a-Wish recipient who wanted backyard chickens.
- We facilitated the opportunity for Riverdale FFA in Nashville, Tenn., to give country singer and FFA alum Chris Janson a replacement FFA jacket.
- We partnered with Cargill at the National FFA Convention & Expo to clean up Eagle Creek Park for Days of Service.
- At the request of First Lady of Tennessee Maria Lee, we helped build a playground at Hermitage Springs Park in Clay County. We invited the Clay County Tennessee FFA Chapter (pictured above) to help, and of course, they showed up.
While these are just a few ways we partner with FFA, we continue to be passionate about being a good neighbor in the places we call home, which is every community where we have a store. We are lucky to have more than 2,200 locations across the nation that engage in their communities.
Many times, friendships develop between the FFA advisors and the store managers who are always willing to help FFA chapters. Tractor Supply stores play a vital role in supporting FFA, providing tools, equipment, feed, and hay that help students grow their skills and serve their communities. We also provide gift cards for FAA members to use when assisting with community gardens, equipment restorations and animal care.
Through our work with FFA members, we have witnessed firsthand the power of leadership, service, and dedication. Their willingness to step up, lend a hand, and make a difference in the community is a testament to the future of agriculture and the strength of teamwork.
