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                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.6


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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


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         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Thomas O. Flood and Michael J. Kincaid, and each
of them acting alone, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and revocation, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement") of Tractor Supply Company (the "Company")
relating to the shares of the Company's Common Stock originally issued pursuant
to the TSC Industries, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and currently held in
accounts for the benefit of certain participants in the Tractor Supply Company
Restated 401(k) Plan, and any and all amendments to the Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform
each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully as to
all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or his
or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

Dated:  July 24, 1997



                                                                  /s/ S.P. Braud
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                                                                  S.P. Braud