What does it take to spend three decades building one brand from the inside out?

Eric Jackson has the answer.

He started working at Tractor Supply at 16, worked his way through an agency detour at GS&F, and just three days before this recording, was promoted to VP of Marketing for Tractor Supply and PetSense.

In this conversation, Eric traces that full arc: how "Life Out Here" grew from a small regional tagline into a national brand identity, what he actually looks for in agency partners, why curiosity beats talent when hiring, and how giving back became part of the company's DNA. This episode covers brand building, leadership transitions, agency relationships, hiring philosophy, and community impact, all from someone who has lived the brand he now markets.

Episode Highlights
00:00 – Episode intro and welcome to The Spark
01:56 – Eric's start at Tractor Supply at 16, working alongside his grandfather
06:09 – The detour into advertising and landing at GS&F
10:15 – The Henry Ford quote that still guides how he operates
12:03 – Rebuilding Del's Feed and Farm Supply from the ground up
15:21 – How the tagline evolved from "stuff you need out here" to "Life Out Here"
33:43 – The one trait Eric looks for above all else when hiring
35:45 – His advice to agencies: take small bites before the big swing
45:18 – Inside the Country Mile award and the culture it protects

Learn More & Connect

Show Notes + Resources: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/
Connect With Eric Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-jackson-5230077/ | https://www.tractorsupply.com/
Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshot.agency/health
Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshot.agency/health
Follow The Spark: https://creativeassembly.agency/ca-podcast/
#TheSparkPodcast #CreativeAssembly #BrandStrategy #AgencyPartnerships #MarketingLeadership #TractorSupply