Tractor Supply Names Next Class of FFA Future Leaders, Launches Fundraiser for Largest Agriculture Scholarship of Its Kind
- Since 2022, the FFA Future Leaders Scholarship has provided more than $4 million to help more than 500 students pursue education and careers in agriculture and the skilled trades.
- From September 7-20, Tractor Supply customers can once again help fund scholarships for the next generation of farmers, ranchers and skilled professionals by donating at checkout in stores and online.
- Limited-edition National FFA Convention T-shirts benefiting FFA programs are now available in stores and online.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Behind every FFA Future Leaders Scholarship is a young person with a plan for the future, and a community helping make that plan possible.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260902478532/en/
Tractor Supply announced 146 recipients of the 2026 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship.
Today, Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced 146 recipients of the 2026 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship. The students, representing 32 states, are pursuing careers ranging from agribusiness, agricultural engineering and veterinary care to welding, construction and diesel mechanics—all fields that will help sustain rural communities for generations to come.
Since Tractor Supply and the National FFA Organization established the Future Leaders Scholarship in 2022, more than 500 students have received support to continue their education in agriculture and the skilled trades. More than $4 million has been awarded to date, made possible in part by Tractor Supply customers who have supported the program year after year at checkout.
This year’s fundraising drive will be held in stores and online at TractorSupply.com from Monday, September 7 to Sunday, September 20. Additionally, 2026 limited-edition National FFA Convention T-shirts are now available for purchase in stores and online, enabling customers to wear their FFA support with pride. Proceeds go directly to FFA to benefit its Gift of Blue, Living to Serve and Alumni Legacy Grants programs.
“Every one of these students has a story, a dream and a desire to make a difference in the communities they call home,” said Joe Fell, Vice President of Merchandise Operations at Tractor Supply and a member of the FFA Sponsor Board. “What makes this program so meaningful is that our customers are helping turn those dreams into opportunities. More than 500 Future Leaders have now received scholarships, and some of our earliest recipients are already graduating, beginning their careers and giving back to rural America. As we celebrate this year’s class, we invite our local communities to help us open doors for one more generation of Future Leaders.”
The FFA Future Leaders Scholarship provides $10,000 scholarships to FFA members pursuing agriculture-related studies in four-year programs and $5,000 scholarships to members attending two-year programs or trade schools. For students and their families, that support can help ease the financial burden of continuing their education and allow them to focus on preparing for the careers they hope to build.
For Daphne Bownds, a freshman at Blinn College-Bryan pursuing veterinary technology, the scholarship means being one step closer to a career serving animals and agriculture.
“This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of college as I pursue my education and continue working toward a career in the agricultural field,” Bownds said. “I am incredibly grateful for your investment in my future and for supporting the next generation of leaders in agriculture.”
Daphne is one of 146 students in this year’s class, each with a different path but a shared commitment to building a future in the communities and industries that keep rural America strong. The FFA Future Leader Scholarship recipients come from 32 states, each with visions of careers in agricultural policy, engineering, construction, veterinary work, business management and more to ensure the rural communities in which they were raised can continue to thrive. Other recipients include:
- Kailee Macy, who grew up in Culver,Oregon, on her family’s specialty seed crop farm. She is currently a junior at Oklahoma State University studying agribusiness and agricultural communications. Kailee hopes to pursue a career in agricultural policy or law to advocate on behalf of agriculturalists.
- Calvin Myers from Bloomfield, Indiana, who will be a freshman at Purdue University. He plans to study agribusiness management and use that education to “serve the agriculture industry and give back to rural communities that have given so much to me.”
- Mya Stine from Falling Waters, West Virginia, who is beginning her studies at Idaho Horseshoeing School. She plans to major in animal science to pursue a career as a farrier.
- Maxx Vetter from Cozad, Nebraska, who is attending Missouri Welding Institute to study welding. He credits the Future Leaders Scholarship with changing his outlook and providing a foundation for his future career.
Tractor Supply’s support continues beyond the scholarship itself. Recipients may pursue career opportunities at Tractor Supply stores and distribution centers while completing their education, and the Company also reserves internship opportunities at its Store Support Center for Future Leaders.
From Scholarship Recipient to Rural Community Leader
The impact of the program is already coming full circle.
When Tractor Supply held its first Future Leaders fundraiser in 2022, customers helped generate $1 million for scholarships. Among the students supported by those funds was Payton Walk, who attended Colby Community College and later earned a Bachelor of Science in animal sciences from Kansas State University.
Today, Payton is back home in rural Kansas, serving her community as Director of Community Development.
Her story reflects the larger purpose behind Future Leaders: helping young people gain the education and skills they need and creating opportunities for them to bring those talents back to the places that helped shape them.
The need for the next generation of agricultural and skilled trade professionals continues to grow. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, agricultural production will need to increase significantly by 2050 to meet the needs of a growing global population. At the same time, the USDA reports that the average age of beginning producers—those who have been farming for 10 years or less—is 47.
Preparing more young people to become farmers, welders, agronomists, mechanics, veterinarians, engineers and agricultural leaders is essential to the future of rural America.
To learn more about Tractor Supply’s longstanding partnership with FFA, visit ir.tractorsupply.com/partnerships.
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$10,000 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS (FOUR-YEAR MAJORS) |
||||
|
STATE |
CITY |
NAME |
INSTITUTION NAME |
INTENDED MAJOR |
|
AZ |
Arlington |
Ashlynn Richardson |
University of Arizona |
Agribusiness Management |
|
AR |
Edgemont |
Kylie Ross |
Harding University |
Computer Science |
|
CA |
Escalon |
Addison Tenente |
Oklahoma State University |
Agribusiness |
|
CA |
Santa Rosa |
Riley Piehl |
Texas A&M University |
Agricultural Leadership & Development |
|
CA |
Willows |
Andrew Alves |
Butte College |
Agribusiness Management |
|
GA |
Danielsville |
Isabelle Williams |
University of Georgia |
Agribusiness |
|
GA |
Sylvania |
Adileigh Rountree |
Georgia Southern University |
Engineering |
|
IL |
Cambridge |
Jolene Blackert |
Iowa State University |
Agribusiness |
|
IL |
Cambridge |
Taylor Snook |
St. Ambrose University at Center for Health Sciences Education |
Physical Therapy |
|
IL |
Ramsey |
Lucas Miller |
Kansas State University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
IL |
Sadorus |
Olivia Shike |
Oklahoma State University |
Animal Science |
|
IN |
Bloomfield |
Calvin Myers |
Purdue University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
IA |
Albia |
Trell Amoss |
Oklahoma State University |
Agricultural Economics |
|
IA |
Jesup |
Cecelia Mensching |
Iowa State University |
Agricultural Communications |
|
IA |
Keswick |
Chloe Zittergruen |
Iowa State University |
Agricultural Communications |
|
IA |
Muscatine |
Lexi Henning |
William Penn University |
Finance |
|
IA |
Peosta |
Luke Boyle |
Iowa State University |
Agriculture Science/Technology |
|
KS |
Buhler |
Mekenna Mendenhall |
Hutchinson Community College |
Pre-Vet |
|
KS |
Canton |
Sage Toews |
Kansas State University |
Agricultural Economics |
|
KS |
Hays |
Mary Vajnar |
Kansas State University |
Agricultural Communications |
|
KS |
Louisburg |
Isabella Moreland |
Oklahoma State University |
Agribusiness |
|
KS |
Moran |
Sophia Heim |
Kansas State University |
Human Development and Family Studies |
|
KS |
Morrowville |
Jonathan Wright |
Kansas State University |
Agronomy |
|
MI |
Mason |
Wesley Rogers |
Purdue University |
Agribusiness |
|
MI |
Merrill |
Kayla Goward |
Michigan State University |
Agribusiness |
|
MI |
New Lothrop |
Sara Dammann |
Michigan State University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
MI |
Owosso |
Barett Yoho |
Michigan State University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
MN |
Lester Prairie |
Gracie Ross |
South Dakota State University |
Agricultural Business |
|
MO |
Kingdom City |
Sophia Geppert |
University of Missouri – Columbia |
Agricultural Business |
|
MO |
Maryville |
Hadley Cline |
Northwest Missouri State University |
Agricultural Business |
|
MO |
Tipton |
Carsyn Petree |
University of Missouri – Columbia |
Agribusiness Management |
|
NE |
Bassett |
Trey Anthony |
University of Nebraska – Lincoln |
Economics |
|
NE |
Juniata |
Peyton Hartman |
Buena Vista University |
Agribusiness |
|
NC |
Gold Hill |
Gracelyn Lowe |
North Carolina State University |
Agricultural Engineering |
|
OH |
Baltimore |
Henry Hoisington |
Ohio University |
Meat Industry Mechanical Engineering |
|
OH |
Helena |
Gabriel McCrory |
The Ohio State University |
Agronomy |
|
OH |
Lancaster |
Emma Strickler |
The Ohio State University |
Agribusiness |
|
OH |
Mount Victory |
Connor Eckstein |
Ohio Northern University |
Engineering |
|
OH |
Sidney |
Maddox Abke |
Ohio State University – Lima Campus |
Business |
|
OK |
Walters |
Jewel Scherler |
Oklahoma State University |
Agribusiness |
|
OR |
Culver |
Kailee Macy |
Oklahoma State University |
Agricultural Communications |
|
OR |
Dexter |
Abe Craig |
Utah State University |
Avionics |
|
PA |
New Wilmington |
Jenna Whiting |
Pennsylvania State University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
PA |
Port Matilda |
Katherine Coopey |
Pennsylvania State University |
Agribusiness Management |
|
SD |
Geddes |
Mallory Gant |
South Dakota State University |
Agricultural Business |
|
SD |
Sisseton |
Kathryn Meyer |
South Dakota State University |
Agribusiness |
|
TN |
Lebanon |
John Hancock |
Cornell University |
Agricultural Economics |
|
TX |
Bells |
Reese |
Texas A&M University |
Agribusiness |
|
TX |
Clarksville |
Ramsey Blagg |
Texas A&M University |
Nursing |
|
TX |
Godley |
Nola Briscoe |
University of Nebraska – Lincoln |
Biomedical Engineering |
|
TX |
Hallettsville |
Jake Ressler |
Texas A&M University |
Agribusiness |
|
TX |
Jacksonville |
Karen Dyess |
Stephen F Austin State University |
Agricultural Communications |
|
TX |
Mineral Wells |
Garrison Facteau |
Texas Tech University |
Business Management |
|
TX |
Van Alstyne |
Ainsley Williams |
Oklahoma State University |
Agribusiness |
|
WA |
Clarkston |
Stone Ausman |
Oregon State University |
Agricultural Engineering |
| $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS (TRADE SCHOOLS/TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS) | ||||
|
STATE |
CITY |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
INTENDED MAJOR |
|
AZ |
Chandler |
Angel Sanchez Rojas |
Mesa Community College |
Welding |
|
AZ |
Tucson |
Siena Contreras |
Pima Community College |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
AR |
Texarkana |
Baylee Riley |
Undecided |
Criminal Justice |
|
CA |
Hayfork |
Levi Cavalli |
Santa Barbara City College |
Criminal Justice |
|
CO |
Bethune |
Camory Wedel |
Colby Community College |
Dental Hygiene |
|
FL |
Interlachen |
Mason Deloach |
St. Johns River State College |
Business |
|
FL |
Winter Haven |
Rylee Fountain |
Aparicio-Levy Technical College, Erwin Technical College |
Business |
|
ID |
Mackay |
Alex Hofhine |
Prime Line Academy |
Electrical Engineering |
|
IL |
Cissna Park |
Lauryn Hamrick |
Illinois Central College |
Nursing |
|
IL |
Cornell |
Austin Quick |
Lake Land College |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
IL |
Earlville |
Landen Tirevold |
Waubonsee Community College |
Undecided |
|
IL |
Gilman |
Owen Pree |
Parkland College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
IL |
Greenville |
John Bohn |
Kaskaskia College |
Electronic Education |
|
IL |
Ina |
Morgan Payne |
Rend Lake College |
Agribusiness Management |
|
IL |
New Athens |
Tessa Zimmer |
Southwest Illinois College |
Nursing |
|
IL |
Streator |
Aiden Haag |
Southeast Lineman Training Center |
Telecommunications |
|
IL |
Wayne City |
Kenzie Seidel |
Vincennes University |
Physical Therapy |
|
IA |
Breda |
Meredith Sturm |
University of Iowa |
Radiation Therapy |
|
IA |
Creston |
Nolan Ide |
Southwestern Community College, Iowa |
Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production |
|
IA |
Luana |
Caleb Zuercher |
Hawkeye Community College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
KS |
Clifton |
Jordi Fahey |
Cloud County Community College |
Nursing |
|
KS |
Concordia |
Russell Alexander |
Fort Hays Tech North Central |
Construction Science |
|
KS |
Hiawatha |
Kenzie Nelson |
Colby Community College |
Animal Science |
|
KS |
Liberty |
Teige Thiesing |
Coffeyville Community College |
Welding |
|
KS |
Manhattan |
Mason Willard |
Pratt Community College |
Electrical Engineering |
|
KS |
Westphalia |
Kyzer Lehmann |
North Central Kansas Technical College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
KY |
Hillsboro |
Robert Pease |
Kentucky Welding Institute |
Welding |
|
KY |
Waynesburg |
Avery Wesley |
Somerset Community College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
MA |
West Roxbury |
Allison Lynch |
University of Northwestern Ohio |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
MN |
Glencoe |
Jameson Buboltz |
North Dakota State College of Science |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
MN |
Red Wing |
Jacob McCoy |
Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical – Red Wing Campus |
Nursing |
|
MN |
Spicer |
Shea Loso |
Ridgewater College |
Nursing |
|
MO |
Bonnots Mill |
Eli Koenigsfeld |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Construction Science |
|
MO |
Carrollton |
Carter Germann |
State Fair Community College |
Construction Science |
|
MO |
Chillicothe |
Glenna Barnett |
North Central Missouri College |
Agribusiness Management |
|
MO |
Fair Play |
Lena Skipper |
Ozarks Technical Community College |
Construction Science |
|
MO |
Keytesville |
Mason Meagher |
Grand River Technical School |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
MO |
Maryville |
Allison Riley |
Central Methodist University at State Fair Community College |
Dental Hygiene |
|
MO |
Maryville |
Madalynn Stuart |
Missouri Welding Institute |
Welding |
|
MO |
Mound City |
Destiny Panning |
North Central Missouri College |
Occupational Therapy |
|
MO |
Pleasant Hill |
Davin Gilsdorf |
Fort Scott Community College – Multiple Sites |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
MO |
Polo |
Ryan Robison |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Horticulture |
|
MO |
Preston |
Baylee Hash |
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College |
Horse Production/Management |
|
MO |
Ravenwood |
Trent Henggeler |
Southwest Community College |
Electronic Education |
|
MO |
Rosendale |
Cooper Grishow |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
MO |
Salem |
Isabella Black |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Agribusiness Management |
|
MO |
Savannah |
Addison Emmendorfer |
Concorde Career College – Kansas City |
Dental Hygiene |
|
MO |
Sedgewickville |
John Bollinger |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
MO |
Tarkio |
Quin Staten |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Landscape Architecture |
|
MO |
Troy |
Carleigh Enloe |
St. Charles Community College |
Allied Health |
|
MO |
Troy |
Kadence Creech |
St. Louis Community College |
Allied Health |
|
MO |
Waynesville |
James Laughlin |
State Technical College of Missouri |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
NE |
Cozad |
Maxx Vetter |
Missouri Welding Institute |
Welding |
|
NE |
Elwood |
Noah Rand |
Southeast Community College – Milford |
Undecided |
|
NE |
Pierce |
Cayden Holan |
Northeast Community College |
Piping Engineering |
|
NE |
Shelton |
Matthew Goldfish |
Northeast Community College |
Construction Science |
|
NC |
Newland |
Jimmy Mendez-Ortega |
NASCAR Technical Institute |
Undecided |
|
ND |
Carrington |
Sam Simons |
North Dakota State College of Science |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
ND |
Dickinson |
Bradley Krebs |
North Dakota State College of Science |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
ND |
Wilton |
Mason Oswald |
Bismarck State College |
Welding |
|
OK |
Haskell |
Gracie Bolding |
ATA College |
Allied Health |
|
OK |
Nardin |
Kalli Gilbert |
OSU-OKC |
Pre-medicine-Pre-Pharmacy |
|
OK |
Newkirk |
Jacob Merhoff |
Texas State Technical College |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
OR |
Rogue River |
Josiah West |
Pacific Aviation NorthWest |
Agricultural Mechanics/Crop Science |
|
OR |
Union |
Jodee Baxter |
Eastern Oregon University |
Nursing |
|
PA |
Conneaut Lake |
Mitchell Lasko |
University of Northwestern Ohio |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
PA |
Hegins |
Kyle Bowman |
Pennsylvania College of Technology |
Agricultural Mechanics |
|
PA |
Mechanicsburg |
Emma Abramson |
Harrisburg Area Community College |
Welding |
|
PA |
Port Royal |
Kalynn Brown |
South Hills School of Business and Technology – State College |
Medical Technology |
|
SD |
Canova |
Callie Kaufmann |
Des Moines Area Community College |
Forensic Science |
|
SD |
Colton |
Gracie Pedersen |
Lake Area Technical College |
Nursing |
|
SD |
Iroquois |
Kirby Miller |
Lake Area Technical College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
SD |
Iroquois |
Natalie Cundy |
Lake Area Technical College |
Physical Therapy |
|
SD |
Willow Lake |
Cooper Pommer |
Lake Area Technical College |
Nursing |
|
TX |
Beasley |
Daphne Bownds |
Blinn College- Bryan |
Veterinary Technology |
|
TX |
George West |
Spencer Lee |
Texas State Technical College – Waco |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
TX |
Nacogdoches |
Michael Montario |
Texas State Technical College Marshall |
Welding |
|
TX |
Powell |
Dominic Hernandez |
Texas State Technical College – Harlingen |
Welding |
|
TX |
Tennessee Colony |
Gus Beckendorf |
Texas State Technical College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
TX |
Wheeler |
Tazlan Brown |
Tarleton State University |
Athletic Training |
|
UT |
Delta |
Keaton Eliason |
Snow College – Richfield Campus |
Undecided |
|
UT |
St. George |
Kaitlin Sorensen |
The Skin Institute |
Business |
|
UT |
Stansbury Park |
Bradley Koot |
Tooele Technical College |
Diesel Mechanics |
|
WA |
Elma |
John Doelman |
Western Welding Academy |
Welding |
|
WV |
Falling Waters |
Mya Stine |
Idaho Horseshoeing School |
Animal Science |
|
WV |
Walton |
Lily Smith |
BridgeValley Community and Technical College |
Health Science Studies |
|
WI |
Cassville |
Iris Adams |
Northeast Iowa Community College – Peosta Campus |
Healthcare Studies |
|
WI |
Clayton |
Kaylee Hornick |
Northwood Technical College |
Welding |
|
WI |
Colfax |
Janica Larson |
Chippewa Valley Technical College |
Physical Therapy |
|
WI |
Galesville |
Jazlynn Olson |
Western Technical College |
Business Management |
|
WY |
Albin |
Emery Branigan |
Laramie County Community College |
Electrical Engineering |
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 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 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260902478532/en/
Mary Winn Pilkington (615) 440-4212
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: Tennessee United States North America
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Other Retail Philanthropy Training Specialty Other Education Agriculture Natural Resources University Fund Raising Education Foundation Retail Other Philanthropy
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| Tractor Supply announced 146 recipients of the 2026 FFA Future Leaders Scholarship. |
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