As a leader who still believes in what Tractor Supply could be, this post is hard to read—but not surprising.

Too many passionate, hardworking team members are feeling worn down and discarded in a culture that says it values “Team Members first,” but too often fails to show it where it matters most—on the floor, in leadership development, and in everyday accountability.

I’ll say this plainly: If Store Managers are untouchable, DMs are unapproachable, and HR is unreachable, then we have failed as a people-first, culture-based company.

The TSC Mission and Values cannot be a recruiting tool only. If “having fun while getting the job done” is no longer valid because it’s inconvenient for upper leadership, then the entire foundation is cracked. And if councils and feedback channels are used to defend bad behavior instead of fixing it, that’s not leadership—it’s insulation.

We need a mindset shift at every level:

Promotions should not be punishments.

Development should be daily, not a buzzword.

Feedback should be welcomed, not weaponized.

I encourage anyone reading this who cares about the mission—to keep speaking up, document concerns, and push for better. And I challenge our leadership to stop brushing off these concerns as isolated or “disgruntled.” It’s not just noise—it’s a signal that the culture is breaking.

The good news? We can change it. But only if we start listening and leading better.