The Tractor Supply company on Thursday issued a statement announcing it will “eliminate DEI roles” and take a series of other actions in response to the backlash which followed recent reporting about the company’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
The Tractor Supply statement, posted to social media, explained, “We work hard to live up to our Mission and Values every day and represent the values of the communities and customers we serve.”
The company continued, “We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them. We have taken this feedback to heart.”
In response, Tractor Supply promised it will “[e]liminate DEI roles and retire our current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment.”
The company also pledged to cease submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign, refocus its “Team Member Engagement Groups on mentoring, networking and supporting the business,” and “[further focus on rural America priorities including ag education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor.”
Tractor Supply also pledged it will “stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns,” and to “[w]ithdraw our carbon emission goals and focus on our land and water conservation efforts.”
Statement from Tractor Supply pic.twitter.com/ZMweR8JVuy
— Tractor Supply (@TractorSupply) June 27, 2024
“Rural communities are the backbone of our nation and what make America great,” the company said later in its statement. It added, “We are honored to be a part of them.”
The statement follows weeks of reporting about Tractor Supply’s previous commitment to DEI and participation in political events.
In a June 20 post to X, the Libs of TikTok account revealed Tractor Supply CEO Hal Lawton “established a DEI council and supports a radical transgender ideology.”
It's no secret that @TractorSupply is one of the most loved brands in conservative America. But did you know that they also promote LBGTQ training, fund pride events, and support s*x change surgeries?
Their CEO Hal Lawton established a DEI council and supports a radical gender… pic.twitter.com/gj7IwDysWd
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 20, 2024
Tennessee political commentator and documentary filmmaker Robby Starbuck also posted a video of Lawton describing DEI as “a critical, strategic priority for us” and “just the right thing to do.”
Starbuck also revealed a series of posts by Melissa Kersey, executive vice president and chief of Human Resources at Tractor Supply, who the commentator wrote was hired by Lawton.
“She admits she aimed to bring in ‘new, more progressive hiring practices and policies,'” wrote Starbuck. He added that Kersey held a Pride Month meeting in 2022 that promoted an organization that “supports sex changes for kids.”
Meet Melissa Kersey, EVP and Chief of HR @TractorSupply. CEO Hal Lawton hired her.
She admits she aimed to bring in "new, more progressive HR hiring practices and policies."
For pride month in 2022 she held a meeting that promoted PFLAG (LGBTQ+ group that supports sex changes… pic.twitter.com/fvB6qQLQoX
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 26, 2024
Starbuck also highlighted Tractor Supply’s $100,000 donation to an activist group that “worked around the clock” to stop the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
Real America’s Voice additionally reported that Tractor Supply provided data to the Human Rights Campaign for its database on corporations in the United States.
Tractor Supply is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee and operates 2,250 stores with 50,000 employees.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Tractor Supply Store” by TrinkK. CC BY-SA 2.0.
