<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001415889-23-004040.txt : 20230303
<SEC-HEADER>0001415889-23-004040.hdr.sgml : 20230303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20230303153514
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001415889-23-004040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20230220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20230303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20230303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Oas Noelle Joan
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001967942

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16125
		FILM NUMBER:		23703518

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		15073137769

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 THEURER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WINONA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55987

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FASTENAL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000815556
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-BUILDING MATERIALS, HARDWARE, GARDEN SUPPLY [5200]
		IRS NUMBER:				410948415
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 THEURER BLVD
		CITY:			WINONA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55987
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5074545374

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 THEURER BLVD
		CITY:			WINONA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55987
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3-03032023_080302.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000815556</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FASTENAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FAST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001967942</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Oas Noelle Joan</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2001 THEURER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WINONA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55987</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP-Human Resources</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4544</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1152</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2029-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>789</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>625</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>62</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2031-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>806</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2032-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1041</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option will fully vest and become exercisable over a period of eight years, with 25%  of the option vesting and becoming exercisable two years after the grant date, and the remainder vesting and becoming exercisable proportionately (12.5%) each year thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option will fully vest and become exercisable over a period of eight years, with 12.5% of the option vesting and becoming exercisable each year following the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John J. Milek , Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex24-03032023_080302.htm
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN">
<html><head><title>Document</title><meta name="keywords" content="attorney power exchange company hereby"><meta name="author" content="Faegre &amp; Benson LLP"><meta name="date" content="02/14/2023"></head><body style="margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; color:#000000">
<p style="margin:0px; font-size:11pt" align="center">POWER OF ATTORNEY</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">I, Noelle J. Oas, hereby authorize and designate each of John J. Milek, Aaron K. Garms, Nicole J. Leimer, signing singly, as my true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:-2px; text-indent:48px; width:96px; font-size:11pt; float:left">(1)</p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:-2px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">execute for and on my behalf, in my capacity as an officer, director and/or greater than 10% shareholder of Fastenal Company, a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), Forms&nbsp;3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section&nbsp;16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;</p>
<p style="margin:0px; clear:left" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:-2px; text-indent:48px; width:96px; font-size:11pt; float:left">(2)</p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:-2px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">do and perform any and all acts for and on my behalf which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such Form&nbsp;3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or similar authority, and The NASDAQ Global Select Market; and</p>
<p style="margin:0px; clear:left" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:-2px; text-indent:48px; width:96px; font-size:11pt; float:left">(3)</p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:-2px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be to my benefit, in my best interest, or legally required of me, it being understood that the statements executed by such attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's discretion.</p>
<p style="margin:0px; clear:left" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">I hereby further grant to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney-in-fact&#146;s substitute or substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. &nbsp;I hereby acknowledge that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at my request, are not assuming, nor is the Company or any such attorney-in-fact&#146;s substitute or substitutes assuming, any of my responsibilities to comply with Section&nbsp;16 of the Exchange Act.</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until I am no longer required to file Forms&nbsp;3, 4 and 5 with respect to my holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier revoked by me in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact. &nbsp;Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such attorney-in-fact hereafter ceases to be an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, this Power of Attorney shall be automatically revoked solely as to such individual, immediately upon such cessation, without any further action on my part.</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">I hereby revoke all previous Powers of Attorney that have been granted by me in connection with my reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to my holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company. </p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have caused this Power of Attorney to be duly executed as of this 14th day of February, 2023.</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:336px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">/s/ Noelle J. Oas </p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:336px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">__________________________________</p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:384px; font-size:11pt" align="justify">Noelle J. Oas &nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin:0px" align="justify"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br><br><br></p>
</body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
