Tractor Supply Deepens Investment in America’s Fairs, Supporting More Than 1,000 Events in 2026

BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 24, 2026--

Carnival rides and concessions may draw the crowds, but at the heart of America’s state and county fairs is a tradition rooted in agriculture—young people showing livestock, families sharing skills passed down through generations and communities coming together to celebrate the people who help feed and sustain them. For decades, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO ) has been part of that tradition, supporting and participating in thousands of fairs across the country. This year, Tractor Supply will support more than 1,000 fairs nationwide—its largest commitment to state and county fairs to date—with investments in agricultural education, youth livestock programs, 4-H and FFA activities and community experiences.

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“State and county fairs are part of Life Out Here. They bring together family, community, hard work, and agriculture — things that matter deeply to Tractor Supply,” said Neil Tenzer, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Pet Health at Tractor Supply. “From young people showing livestock through 4-H and FFA to families carrying on traditions for generations, fairs celebrate agriculture today while helping inspire the next generation. We’re proud to be part of that.”

Why It Matters

Agricultural Legacy

For generations, state and county fairs have been places where agriculture comes to life. More than 2,000 fairs are held across the U.S. each year, bringing together young people showing animals they have raised, farmers and ranchers sharing their work, local makers demonstrating their craft and families carrying traditions forward.

While fairs have evolved over time, their agricultural roots remain strong. Livestock shows, horticulture exhibits, demonstrations and competitions continue to give communities a place to celebrate the skills, knowledge and hard work that sustain rural life.

“We are thankful for Tractor Supply’s continued investment in agricultural fairs and the important platform these fairs provide in giving young people the opportunity to show livestock and helping us educate the public about agriculture and where their food comes from,” said North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

Tractor Supply is involved with approximately 75% of the nation’s state and county fairs, reflecting a longstanding commitment to the communities it serves. Each fair is different because each community is different, but they share a common purpose: bringing people together, creating opportunities for young people and keeping agriculture at the center of community life.

“There is something special about walking through a fair and seeing a young person showing an animal they have spent months raising, or a family returning year after year to a tradition that has been part of their lives for generations,” Tenzer continued. “Those moments are why fairs still matter. At Tractor Supply, we believe in showing up for the communities we call home and helping preserve the traditions that connect people to agriculture. Through our support of fairs, 4-H, FFA and agricultural education, we are investing in the young people who will become tomorrow’s farmers, ranchers and rural leaders—and helping ensure Life Out Here remains strong for generations to come.”

Supporting the Future

For many young people in 4-H and FFA, the fair is the moment months of hard work come into view. Long before they enter the show ring, there are early mornings feeding animals, late afternoons preparing projects and countless lessons in responsibility, patience and perseverance.

The ribbon may last for a season, but the experience can shape a lifetime. Fairs give young people a place to test their skills, learn from one another and build the confidence to pursue careers in agriculture, skilled trades and other fields that keep rural communities strong. For some, those experiences can also lead to scholarships that help make their next chapter possible.

“When a young person walks into the show ring, you are seeing the result of months of commitment, care and hard work,” said Molly Ball, National FFA Foundation President. “Whether they leave with a ribbon or simply knowing they gave it their best, they leave with something even more valuable—confidence, responsibility and an understanding of what it means to see something through. We are grateful to Tractor Supply for helping create more of those opportunities for the next generation.”

Tractor Supply has supported the National FFA Organization since 1985, contributing more than $24 million to education and scholarship programs. That includes the Future Leaders Scholarship, launched in 2022 with a $5 million commitment over five years to help FFA members pursue higher education and skilled-trade careers.

The Company has also supported 4-H since 2010, raising more than $27 million to help young people develop leadership skills, explore future careers and prepare for what comes next.

“Fairs are such an important part of the 4-H experience because they bring together so much of what young people learn throughout the year to help prepare them for their future careers—whether it be in agriculture, skilled trades or other pathways,” said Heather Elliott, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council. “You see 4-H’ers putting their skills to work, supporting one another in the barn and the show ring, and learning firsthand what perseverance looks like. Whether they leave with a ribbon or the pride of knowing they gave it their best, those experiences stay with them. Tractor Supply understands the value of that journey and helps give young people the tools, experiences and encouragement to succeed at the fair and well beyond it.”

Community Prosperity

While fairs range in size from fewer than 25,000 attendees to more than 1 million and span from several days to nearly a month, each one makes a considerable impact on the surrounding community. In 2025, the State Fair of West Virginia concluded with record-breaking attendance of more than 200,000 visitors and a statewide economic impact estimated at $16.9 million. The Washington State Fair, which welcomes more than 900,000 people, generates nearly $400 million in annual business revenue. Fairs also sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs and bring millions of visitors to the area. In many cases, fair revenue funds outreach initiatives that include scholarships, grants and other community programming.

Tractor Supply stores and Team Members are also deeply connected to their communities and are heavily involved in these fairs and other local initiatives and events. By supporting state and county fairs, Tractor Supply is also supporting the places it calls home.

Tractor Supply’s Largest Fair Commitment Yet

For years, Tractor Supply has invested in the fairs that bring rural communities together, supporting them through local sponsorships, in-store activations and product donations. In 2026, that commitment is stronger than ever, with support for more than 1,000 fairs nationwide and an expanded presence at 18 state and regional events.

Tractor Supply’s largest ever fair commitment includes expanded activities at events across the country, including:

To learn more about Tractor Supply’s state and county fair initiative, visit TractorSupply.com.

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 290 on the Fortune 500. The Company’s more than 54,000 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, Allivet, a leading online pet and animal pharmacy, and VIP Petcare, the largest provider of mobile veterinary care in the U.S., in its family of brands. Together, Tractor Supply is able to provide comprehensive solutions for pet stores to the customer’s doorstep, Tractor Supply is here to serve and support Life Out Here.

As of June 27, 2026, the Company operated 2,463 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states and 209 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information, visit www.tractorsupply.com and www.Petsense.com.

Tractor Supply will support more than 1,000 fairs nationwide this year, marking its largest commitment to state and county fairs to date.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A final court of appeals in England struck down a centuries-old gay sex ban in Trinidad and Tobago in a ruling on Tuesday that activists around the world celebrated.

The ruling ended a nearly 10-year battle for gay rights in the twin-island nation and cannot be appealed.

“Those laws cannot be regarded as reasonably justifiable in a society that has a proper respect for the rights and freedom of the individual,” said Judge Philip James Sales of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

In February 2017, Jason Jones filed the case, arguing that so-called “buggery” laws dating from when Trinidad and Tobago was a British colony are unconstitutional. The laws that call for up to five years in prison have not been enforced in recent history, but critics say they still send a message.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Jones said he was celebrating what he called a “stunning victory.”

He described himself as “a very angry gay man” and said he used that anger to power himself through the case as it made its way through the courts for almost a decade.

“Society has treated me worse than a criminal,” he said. “There is a real sense of vindication with this judgment. Finally, the courts are seeing that they need to step up because our politicians are so toothless.”

Jones, who has been openly gay since age 16, left Trinidad and Tobago in 1996 because of what he described as homophobic violence and discrimination. He said he was a singer in church as well as an actor and a dancer.

“Anybody along those lines who was not following the macho rules was treated as a pariah,” he recalled.

He told the AP that he was inspired to speak out after losing friends to HIV/AIDS and after meeting Nina Simone, the American singer, songwriter, composer and civil rights activist, who had traveled to the twin-island nation in 1984 for Carnival. He said he was 19 and spent three weeks with her.

“Nina was the one who said, ‘Jason, get off this rock and go see the world,’” he recalled, calling it a defining, life-changing experience.

Tuesday's ruling was live-streamed, with Sales reading part of the unanimous decision.

“The current understanding of the fundamental individual right to respect for private and family life is that it protects such a core part of human identity, as one’s sexual orientation and the sexual activities carried on in private between consenting adults to give expression to that identity,” Sales said. “Laws which seek to criminalize such activities cannot be justified.”

Jones said he loves his country and is not angry with its people, but rather its laws.

“To discriminate against somebody simply because of who they choose to love is simply ridiculous,” he said by phone, adding that the ruling is a stepping stone in the fight for equality. “Why do people feel they have the right to pass judgment on anybody else?”

Those who opposed Jones include Trinidad and Tobago’s government, the country’s Council of Evangelical Churches and its largest Hindu organization, Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha.

Trinidad's attorney general did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Meanwhile, the Council of Evangelical Churches said it did not have immediate comment.

In April 2018, Trinidad’s High Court found the laws unconstitutional, but a local appeals court partially reversed that ruling in March 2025. Trinidad’s Court of Appeals later allowed Jones to seek a ruling from the Privy Council in England. Trinidad and Tobago is a sovereign republic within the British Commonwealth and still uses London’s Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as its highest court of final appeal. However, the country has pushed for the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice to replace the Privy Council.

Trinidad and Tobago’s government sought a ruling that would uphold the March 2025 ruling. A majority of justices in 2025 found that the High Court erred by allowing judges to change a law. A provision in some Caribbean constitutions protects colonial laws from legal challenges, including in Trinidad and Tobago.

Caribbean nations with so-called buggery laws still on the books include Grenada, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Meanwhile, the Bahamas decriminalized homosexuality in 1991, and the U.K. government repealed such laws in 2001 in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Elsewhere in the Caribbean, judges have recently struck down similar laws in Barbados, Dominica, St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda.

Associated Press reporter Anselm Gibbs in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad contributed to this report.

FILE - The national flag of Trinidad and Tobago, is set with the Flags of the Commonwealth countries being hung along The Mall in London, Thursday, April 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, FIle)