Billingsley School Breaks Ground on $2M Livestock Teaching Lab

Billingsley School broke ground Wednesday on the Applied Science Livestock Teaching Lab, a $2 million facility that Autauga County Schools officials describe as the first of its kind in Alabama and a direct pipeline from the classroom to careers in agriculture.

The lab, set to open at the start of the 2026-2027 school year, will include barn space where students can raise and manage livestock projects, giving them hands-on experience in animal care and agricultural management. State and community leaders joined Autauga County Board of Education members and district leadership at the groundbreaking ceremony on the Billingsley School campus at 2446 County Road 77.

"Today marks more than just the start of another construction project," said Autauga County Schools Superintendent Lyman Woodfin. "It marks the next chapter in our commitment to educational excellence and career readiness. This new lab is an investment in the future of education for students interested in agriscience, fostering innovation, sustainability, and hands-on learning in the animal science field."

Woodfin framed the project as reaching well beyond Billingsley's student body. "This lab is more than a building," he said. "It's an investment in our students' futures, our local economy, and the long-term vitality of our community."

Billingsley School Principal Jason Griffin outlined plans to open the facility to the broader agricultural community, inviting local producers, area farmers, alumni, and industry professionals to mentor students and even house some of their own livestock at the site. "Everyone will be invited to serve as mentors by sharing their expertise and participating in livestock workshops, showmanship clinics, and agricultural education days," Griffin said.

A school system release describes the lab as "a bridge between education and industry, preparing students for high-skill, high-demand careers in agriculture." Woodfin added that the project reflects a broader shift in how the district approaches career readiness. "Projects like this one change the trajectory of our district," he said. "We are meeting students where they are and building pathways that connect education to the industries they're passionate about."

The total project cost is listed as $2 million in reporting by WSFA and the Montgomery Advertiser; the Autauga County Schools press release describes it as a "nearly $2 million" investment. No funding sources were publicly identified at the time of the groundbreaking.