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                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.3




                               POWER OF ATTORNEY




                 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Joseph H. Scarlett, Jr. 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-8 (the "Registration Statement") of
Tractor Supply Company (the "Company") relating to the Company's 1996 Associate
Stock Purchase 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: August 5, 1996



                                                  /s/ Thomas O. Flood
                                                  ---------------------------
                                                  Thomas O. Flood