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Following Tractor Supply's announcement that it will discontinue most of its corporate diversity and climate advocacy initiatives, the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) demanded President and CEO Hal Lawton resign on Tuesday, July 2.

Tractor Supply's Changes in Initiatives

Major changes to Tractor Supply's environmental, social, and governance initiatives have recently been announced. It has reversed its support for the LGBTQ community, removed carbon emission targets, and eliminated diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) positions.

The firm faces a growing backlash over those decisions, from conservative activists speaking out against its social efforts to be more inclusive and combat climate change. Several people feel that Tractor Supply is betraying its consumers and caving into discrimination with this new approach.

Before the firm's statement, Tractor Supply had been under fire on social media for weeks from conservative activists who were against DEI initiatives, LGBTQ+ event sponsorship, and climate activism. A statement released by Tractor Supply last week said it took the feedback to heart and made the adjustments in response to complaints from dissatisfied consumers.

CEO Hal Lawton Urged to Resignation

John Boyd Jr., who founded NBFA and serves as its president, expressed his disapproval of the decision in an interview with the Associated Press. "I see this as rolling back the clock with race relations - because the country is so divided on race, especially in rural America."

The majority of Tractor Supply's 2,200 locations are situated in rural parts of the United States. The company's headquarters are in Brentwood, Tennessee. Customers are looking for farm and ranch goods, and users may overlook trucking supplies, tools, and outdoor equipment, the store's clientele.

According to Boyd, many of the 130,000 members of NBFA live in areas with Tractor Supply stores. He said Black farmers had been customers of the firm for a long time, just like other farmers. In January alone, Boyd-who is also a shareholder in Tractor Supply-spent over $10,000 at the business, purchasing items like fence wire and feed for his horses and cattle in Virginia.

Before calling for Lawton's resignation, NBFA allegedly tried to have many conversations with him to air the group's concerns. Boyd said that if nothing changes in the coming days, the group may consider calling for a boycott.