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

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

News

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

2025-08-04 23:10 Last Updated At:23:31

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 4, 2025--

Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO ), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, announced today 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.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250804734466/en/

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:

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

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)

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

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 296 on the Fortune 500. The Company’s more than 52,000 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 part of the Company’s commitment to caring for animals of all kinds, Tractor Supply is proud to include Petsense by Tractor Supply, a pet specialty retailer, and Allivet, a leading online pet pharmacy, in its family of brands. Together, Tractor Supply is able to provide comprehensive solutions for pet care, livestock wellness and rural living, ensuring customers and their animals thrive. From its stores to the customer’s doorstep, Tractor Supply is here to serve and support Life Out Here.

As of June 28, 2025, the Company operated 2,335 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states and 207 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information, visit www.tractorsupply.com and www.Petsense.com.

Tractor Supply Co. CEO Hal Lawton with FFA members at the Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Tractor Supply Co. CEO Hal Lawton with FFA members at the Great American Farmers Market on the National Mall on Sunday, August 3, 2025.

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

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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