Marbury FFA veterinary team wins state title, advances to nationals

Marbury High School turned the Alabama FFA State Convention into a countywide victory, with its Veterinary Science Team capturing first place and earning a trip to the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Kylie Scroggins, Ava Larkin, Aneija Wright and Aiden Railey gave Autauga County a team that will now compete on the national stage in October.

Scroggins also claimed the highest individual honor in Alabama after a tie in the state contest. Scroggins and Larkin posted identical scores, and officials used district results to settle the deadlock, giving Scroggins the edge because she had finished higher at the district level. The result underscored how narrow the margins can be in FFA competition and how much weight the earlier rounds carry.

The veterinary science event is built to prepare students for college and careers, testing anatomy and physiology, clinical procedures, identification, health and safety, and medical terminology. Alabama FFA’s rules also include a formal tiebreaker section, which explains how a district result can decide a state-level finish when scores are even.

Marbury added another state-level result in the Small Engines Career Development Event, finishing second in Alabama. Cody Woolweaver, an upcoming senior, was named the highest individual in that contest. The Small Engines team included Hunter Lindley, Hollis Daniel, Cody Woolweaver and Aiden Moore at the district level, with Gabe Neighbors competing at state.

Courtney Clair, Marbury’s agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, pointed to the students’ discipline and perseverance as the foundation for the program’s success. Their results reflected more than one good week in Montgomery. They came from repeated practice, technical preparation and the kind of steady work FFA is designed to reward.

The broader payoff for Autauga County is immediate. Marbury now has students headed to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention & Expo, set for Oct. 21-24, 2026, where competitive events, award recognition ceremonies and student workshops will fill the schedule. In a program that Alabama FFA says is built around leadership and career development, Marbury’s latest finishes put local students on a larger stage and gave the county a clear place in the national FFA spotlight.