As company rolls back DEI and environmental policies in response to conservative backlash, employees of Adirondack location quit in protest
By David Escobar
A rollback of corporate policies at a national farm and garden chain has led to local implications at one of the company’s Adirondack stores.
Two employees have resigned from the Tractor Supply Company’s Ray Brook location after the company announced plans to eliminate its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and roll back its environmental commitments after weeks of online backlash from conservatives.
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According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, former general manager of the company’s only Adirondack location, Joe Montello, said he and other employees felt betrayed by Tractor Supply’s statement and policy realignment.
Montello, who identifies as a gay man, also said some customers have told him they will no longer patronize Tractor Supply in the wake of the company’s new policy positions.
In a news release shared on its website, the Brentwood, Tenn.-based company announced sweeping changes to its corporate policy, including eliminating DEI-based initiatives, discontinuing its participation in pride festivals and withdrawing from its carbon emission goals.
The corporate policy changes were prompted by a campaign launched against the company on X (formerly Twitter) by conservative activist Robby Starbuck. On June 6, the music video director and former Republican candidate for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District said Tractor Supply was at odds with its conservative customer base.
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After Starbuck’s viral online post, Tractor Supply issued a statement in response to the social media backlash.
“We have heard from customers that we have disappointed them,” it said. “We have taken this feedback to heart.”
The company said it will shift its focus toward “rural America priorities including [agricultural] education, animal welfare, veteran causes and being a good neighbor.”
Conservative social media users praised Tractor Supply. But groups including the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD condemned the company for its decision.
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In the wake of Tractor Supply’s public statement and the employee resignations in Ray Brook, Adirondack Diversity Initiative spoke to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, calling the statement a “shocking betrayal of human rights and dignity, the environment, and our democratic voting rights.”
Photo at top: The exterior of the Tractor Supply store in Ray Brook. Photo by David Escobar
Editor’s note: An earlier version of the story stated that the Ray Brook store was the only Tractor Supply location in the Adirondack Park. We used the company’s list of New York state locations. The list had left out the Ticonderoga store.
This reporting is a collaboration of The Adirondack Explorer and North Country Public Radio, with funding from Report for America.
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Johnathan says
The absurd comment by Adirondack Diversity Initiative is both false, inflammatory and misleading. A company choosing to change its marketing and charitable causes does not infringe upon other people’s dignity, nor their Democratic values. All people deserve equal opportunity based on merit, not based on skin color.
Kevster says
FYI there is at least one more Tractor Supply store in the Adirondacks, in Ticonderoga.
To me, if someone does not want to shop somewhere, they can just go somewhere else.
Melissa Hart says
Thanks for clarifying. We will update the story. For some reason, the Ti store isn’t included on the company’s list of NYS stores! https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/store-locations/new-york
Paula Audette says
When I heard of TSC’s change in direction to drastically scale back their environmental commitment in order to appease a portion of their clientele who equates DEI with “environment” as cultural war issues, I immediately cut up my TSC credit card and mailed it back to them. DEI is a cultural/political issue; environmental issues are scientific issues. They are separate, but in the rush to bolster their customers who hate both, the conflated them. I would have no objections if TSC wanted to have a policy that I disagreed with regarding culture war/political issues. But scientific facts are facts. I draw the line between them and culture war stuff.
Davro says
It’s tractor supply. It should focus on Agriculture , students, and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers. What does a person’s sexuality or gender identity have to do with farm and ranch . I would not expect a drag queen store to encourage me to vote Trump. I would not expect a Goth store to promote religion. Why then should a Farm and Ranch supplier encourage diversity. Not the best examples but still there is a Time and Place for everything.
Bob Lewis says
it’s great that TRACTOR SUPPLY decides to stay in their lane with policy and donations. I’m sure thee are many other companies that will continue to support democrats “woke gender and climate Delusions”. These employees are free to choose who they work for. Isn’t America great the WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SHOP, WORK AND SPEND OUR MONEY TO SUPPORT WHOMEVER WE CHOOSE.
John Perry says
It’s about time,the company with tractor in it’s title focused on the needs of rural communities.Resignations from one store in a confused community that holds drag shows for children in a public park in the middle day , should not dictate terms to a private company.How many other stores followed in support? If you feel betrayed by your employer you are free to seek employment with an organization that is more in line with your own personal beliefs.
Thomas J. Ferlito says
I am shocked, but very happy, that Tractor Supply has seen the light that meritocracy is what is fair, not DEI and also supporting the environmental concerns of its core business customers. I hope that TS can stay the course in the wake of the oncoming hammering from the small minority that has bullied thousands of businesses to put in place DEI and radical climate policies over the past 20 years.
Todd Eastman says
If eliminating Tractor Supply’s carbon emissions goals is important to the angry MAGA crowd…
… then eliminating flood and fire recovery funds for those folks should be part of the equation…
Chuck Richards says
Why can’t corporations just stay out of political issues? They have patrons on all sides and risk offending all of them. Just sell your products. No need to focus on anything other than providing the best products and services to EVERYONE.
Bill Keller says
Since the “Citizen United” ruling, corporations own the elected politician. They will never stay out of politics. They give millions and millions to buy the politicians vote for isues that effect their business. Democrat or Republican, it doesn’t matter. Both parties keep us divided so they can continue to fleece us. And we are foolish enough to let them.
Bob Larson says
Just so I’m clear, “DEI-based initiatives, participation in pride festivals, and carbon emission goals” are political, but white supremacy and bigotry aren’t. OK, I got it. Lord knows a merchant doesn’t want to adapt to the changing neighborhood. It is far better that those people know their place and stay there. I’m sure they’ll be OK with that. That has worked well so far – as long as you don’t ask them. Living in two distinct realities works so well for us. The country is ungovernable; the problems that are dragging us down, like addiction, overdoses, homelessness, not enough housing, too few available employees, shrinking middle class, suicides in all segments, stress, and obesity, will just straighten themselves out doing what we did that got us here. Maybe we could just pray it away.
Brian W says
I see misdirected energy on both sides. This company would have done better to purge politics from its policies and remain culturally neutral. What I do in the privacy of my own home is MY business and no one else’s. When a company panders to either side of the political aisle, freedom suffers.
Register your anger at the ballot box and reject this political intrusion into people’s private lives. Vote out the instigators of this inappropriate cultural war.
Robby Starbuck can kiss my white …
Bob says
my view is Adirondack Diversity Initiative and all other non profits including churches should start paying taxes so I and other workers don’t have to subsidize their views regardless of if we agree or disagree with them. Tractor supply shareholders and executives should pay FICA taxes on all of their income the same as I do on my wages. that would be true equality and inclusivity.
Danangme69 says
All any American has is their vote and their wallet. I had no idea what TS employment policies were but I expected them to comply with equal opportunities employment laws and EPA emission standards and truthfully I was ready to stop shopping there when they allowed Citibank to raise the interest rates on TS credit cards to 38%. I spent a lot of money the last 3 years at TS when I moved from a town to a rural area and used their 6-12 and 18 month no interest paymeny plans but I can get the same deal at many.other non.political vendors.