Tractor Supply Co. ends DEI efforts after social media backlash
Tractor Supply, a rural lifestyle retail chain with locations across the country, including many in the Empire State, is altering its company initiatives after backlash from conservative consumers.
According to a statement released last week, the company said the "hard-earned dollars" of consumers should go to communities "we all love," therefore, they will ensure "activities and giving" tie directly to the business through a series of changes. Many LGBTQ+ supporters replied on social media, saying they'll take their business elsewhere.
Here's what we know.
Tractor Supply Co. halts DEI efforts after backlash from conservative customers
Tractor Supply announced five major changes to better "represent the values of the communities and customers we serve" in Thursday's release, including no longer submitting data to the Human Rights Campaign, refocusing Team Member Engagement Groups on mentoring, networking and supporting the business, focusing on rural America priorities including ag education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor and stop sponsoring nonbusiness activities like pride festivals and voting campaigns, eliminating DEI roles and retiring current DEI goals while still ensuring a respectful environment and withdrawing carbon emission goals and focusing on land and water conservation efforts.
As reported by The Tennessean, the changes follow backlash from Robby Starbuck, a former Hollywood director turned conservative activist who shared a nearly eight-minute video on X, formerly known as Twitter, exposing the company's support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Robby Starbuck posts to X about LGBTQ+ support from Tractor Supply, with Kentucky reference
Starbuck's nearly eight-minute post started by showing LGBTQ+ flags at a distribution center in Franklin, Kentucky.
"I take no pleasure in doing this. I am a Tennessean. I do not want to hurt a Tennessee company, but conservatives deserve to know that this is where their money's going and it gets worse, there is more," he said in the video. Click here for more information.
It’s time to expose Tractor Supply.
It’s one of the most beloved brands in 🇺🇸 by conservatives but what do they REALLY stand for under CEO @hallawton’s leadership?
• LGBTQIA+ training for employees
• Funding pride/drag events
• They have a DEI Council
• Funding sex changes… pic.twitter.com/F4tvNmNZ9f— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 6, 2024
Why are people mad at Tractor Supply?
After backlash from conservative consumers, Tractor Supply is eliminating DEI initiatives and refocusing efforts on other things. According to an opinion piece published in The Tennessean in 2021, CEO Hal Lawton said he hoped to address multiple long-term DEI initiatives including increasing employees of color at the management level and above by 50% by 2026, increasing funding for education for African American communities by 30% by 2026 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
The company is now reprioritizing the "future of rural America" through support of veteran causes, emergency response, animal shelters, state fairs, rodeos, Future Farmers of America and more.
What does the statement from Tractor Supply Co. say?
Statement from Tractor Supply pic.twitter.com/ZMweR8JVuy
— Tractor Supply (@TractorSupply) June 27, 2024
In response to the statement, some LGBTQ+ supporters posted that they'll no longer shop there.
Tractor Supply locations in New York
ALDEN Alden, NY 14004
AMENIAAmenia, NY 12501
AMSTERDAM Amsterdam, NY 12010
ARCADEArcade, NY 14009
AUBURN Auburn, NY 13021
BATAVIA Batavia, NY 14020
BROCKPORT Brockport, NY 14420
CANANDAIGUA Canandaigua, NY 14424
CASTLETONCastleton, NY 12033
CHESTER Chester, NY 10918
CLAYBaldwinsville, NY 13027
CLIFTON PARKClifton Park, NY 12065
COBLESKILL Cobleskill, NY 12043
CORTLAND Cortland, NY 13045
DANSVILLE Dansville, NY 14437
DUNKIRK Dunkirk, NY 14048
EAST SYRACUSE East Syracuse, NY 13057
FULTON Fulton, NY 13069
GENESEO Geneseo, NY 14454
GENEVA Geneva, NY 14456
GLOVERSVILLE Gloversville, NY 12078
HAMBURG Hamburg, NY 14075
HAMILTONHamilton, NY 13346
HIGHLAND Highland, NY 12528
HORSEHEADS Horseheads, NY 14845
HUDSONHudson, NY 12534
ITHACA Ithaca, NY 14850
LAKEWOODLakewood, NY 14750
LIBERTY Liberty, NY 12754
LOCKPORT Lockport, NY 14094
MASSENA Massena, NY 13662
NORWICH Norwich, NY 13815
OLEAN Olean, NY 14760
ONEIDAOneida, NY 13421
ONEONTA Oneonta, NY 13820
ONTARIOOntario, NY 14519
OSWEGO Oswego, NY 13126
PAINTED POST Painted Post, NY 14870
PATTERSON Patterson, NY 12563
PLATTSBURGH Plattsburgh, NY 12901
POTSDAM Potsdam, NY 13676
QUEENSBURY Queensbury, NY 12804
ROME Rome, NY 13440
SARATOGA SPRINGS Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
SPRINGVILLESpringville, NY 14141
UTICAUtica, NY 13502
VESTAL Vestal, NY 13850
WATERTOWN Watertown, NY 13601
WARSAWWarsaw, NY 14569
WELLSVILLE Wellsville, NY 14895
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Tractor Supply Co. ends DEI efforts after social media backlash