Tractor Supply Company announced a new, multi-year partnership agreement with National 4-H Council that will raise funds for local county 4-H programs as well as state and national 4-H programming. The agreement went into effect in August and runs through June 2013.

"This partnership will provide funding that is critical to the 4-H programs designed to enrich the lives of its six million young members by teaching life skills, citizenship and leadership qualities," said Tractor Supply Company Chairman and CEO Jim Wright. "For us, this is an outstanding way to support our current and future customers and future team members, and it's a way to give back to the 900-plus unique communities we serve."

As part of the partnership, Tractor Supply will organize fundraisers through two annual Paper Clover events where shoppers can support their 4-H youth programs by making donations upon check out at the store registers. For every $1 donation, shoppers will receive a paper clover to sign and post in store windows. The programs will take place nationally in the spring and fall of each year of the partnership.

Another fundraising component of the partnership will be the sale of reusable shopping bags that will be made available for purchase at Tractor Supply stores nationwide. In addition to the environmental benefits that reusable bags offer, the proceeds from the sales of the bags will be donated to the National 4-H Council.

"I can't think of two organizations more ideally suited for each other than 4-H and Tractor Supply," said John Wendler, senior vice president, marketing at Tractor Supply. "Our mission and values are very similar, their members are already our customers and many of our team members either grew up in 4-H or are involved in 4-H today. And while many of our stores have been associated with 4-H clubs for years, this partnership establishes a chain wide relationship that we believe will bring significant value to both of our organizations."

—From Tractor Supply news release