Tractor Supply Renews Support for Veterans in Agriculture With $100,000 Donation to Farmer Veteran Coalition
Retailer marks eighth year supporting nonprofit’s Fellowship Fund to provide military veterans with supplies, equipment and training for their farm and ranch endeavors
Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ: TSCO), the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Tractor Supply Company Foundation announced today a $100,000 donation to the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s (FVC) Fellowship Fund, a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching.
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Tractor Supply Company presented Joseph McGowan with his Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund grant at its Las Cruces, New Mexico, location.
This marks the eighth year of this partnership, benefiting more than 450 veterans in their agricultural ventures. FVC is a national nonprofit, non-governmental organization that utilizes collaboration between the farming and military communities to help veterans develop viable employment and meaningful careers while feeding America.
"Supporting our military heroes means standing by them long after their service ends, especially as they look for new opportunity and purpose as civilians," said Mary Winn Pilkington, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Public Relations at Tractor Supply and President of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation. "FVC has proven that agriculture is a powerful outlet, offering these men and women a meaningful new career path alongside profound physical and psychological benefits. By stepping into farming, these veterans also strengthen the very fabric of the rural communities we serve. Through our longstanding partnership with FVC, we are privileged to support hundreds of farmer veterans each year as they grow their businesses, feed their neighbors and embark on a new adventure Out Here."
Tractor Supply Company Foundation Grants
The Tractor Supply Company Foundation donated $50,000 to the Fellowship Fund to help farmer veterans develop their farm business. FVC identified 12 applicants with especially strong business plans to receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Many recipients have agricultural backgrounds, while others have spent recent years acquiring relevant training and education. Foundation grant recipients include:
- Brian Castner, an Air Force veteran and author who operates du Trieux Farm in Hartford, New York. Du Trieux is a 140-acre family farm focused on humanely raising livestock on pasture using the techniques and philosophy of regenerative agriculture. The farm also offers a "farmstay" bed and breakfast experience.
- Elmer Douglas Stark, a Navy veteran who owns Stark’s Organic Farms in Ruther Glen, Virginia. The farm produces high-quality Asian vegetables and culturally significant crops for wholesale distribution to grocery stores across Virginia. The farm is committed to sustainable practices and dedicates adaptive agriculture beds to support Wounded Warriors with service-connected disabilities, providing therapeutic, accessible opportunities in agriculture.
- John Zaginaylo, an Army and U.S. Marine veteran and fourth-generation dairy farmer. John owns Tri John Farms, a crop-based farming operation in Berwick, Pennsylvania, that he started to support his sister’s 100-head dairy operation. The farm also sells corn to a local grain elevator and for resale through Facebook Marketplace.
Tractor Supply Company Gift Cards
FVC also selected an additional 50 veterans from all branches of the U.S. military to each receive a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card to purchase items that will make a crucial difference in their farm business. Previous grant recipients have used their gift card to purchase chicks, trailers, stock tanks, bulk feed, dump carts, fencing and many other items critical to daily operations.
This year’s beneficiaries include veterans and active-duty members with a wide range of farming experience and interests. They include:
- Lori Grant, a Navy veteran in Fayetteville, Georgia, who operates an agricultural business focused on small-scale food production and plant-based services that support long-term farm viability and earned income. Her operation includes vegetable production, perennial plantings and plant care services such as repotting and garden support using sustainable and regenerative growing practices.
- Joshua Lewis, a Marine veteran who started Black Dog Ranch in Cheney, Washington, with his partner Megan, who is also a veteran. They utilize livestock and regenerative practices to grow and sell flowers under the trade name Winnie's Whimsicals. Black Dog Ranch also offers goat rentals for land management purposes.
- Joseph McGowan, an Army veteran who took over Faith Farm in Anthony, New Mexico, in 2025. McGowan and his wife converted the farm from alfalfa and horses to pomegranates, which they grow using water-conscious and sustainable irrigation practices. The farm also utilizes cover crop rotations to improve the soil and decrease the necessary supplementation.
- Col. Christopher Mulder who is currently the Commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He and his wife, also a military veteran, established Mulder Family Farm in western Michigan to create a family legacy and eventually create a place where veterans can recharge. The farm currently produces pears, apples, sweet cherries and corn, and has additional outbuildings the Mulders hope to transform into a retreat experience for veterans.
- Ellie Smith, an Air Force veteran who owns Nelson River Acres, a sustainable, regenerative 13- acre farm in central Pennsylvania. Her focus is on heritage breed meats and other products including pelts, wool, eggs and breeding stock for other farmers.
An advisory panel of agricultural industry professionals evaluates all Fellowship Fund applicants on criteria that includes personal investment in the farm business, strength of funding request, vision and goals for the future of their business and community involvement. Since 2018, Tractor Supply and its Foundation have donated $750,000 to FVC. Once a recipient is selected to receive a grant, they also agree to provide periodic progress reports, mentor other farmer veterans and demonstrate a desire to make a continued positive impact on the farmer veteran community.
"Launching and growing a farm or ranch requires significant investment in equipment, infrastructure and other essential resources," said FVC Executive Director Jeanette Lombardo. "Tractor Supply’s ongoing support of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund helps our members overcome these barriers and build sustainable agricultural businesses. Their commitment goes beyond financial support—they truly understand the challenges veteran farmers and ranchers face and consistently stand alongside them as trusted partners. We’re deeply grateful for Tractor Supply’s dedication to strengthening veteran-owned farms, rural communities and the future of American agriculture."
To see the full list of 2026 Fellowship Fund recipients, visit farmvetco.org/fvfellowship/2026-farmer-veteran-fellowship-fund-awardees/.
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 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, Allivet, a leading online pet and animal pharmacy, and VIP Petcare, the largest provider of mobile veterinary care in the United States, 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 March 28, 2026, the Company operated 2,435 Tractor Supply stores in 49 states and 206 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores in 23 states. For more information, visit www.tractorsupply.com and www.Petsense.com.
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Mary Winn Pilkington (615) 440-4212
corporatecommunications@tractorsupply.com