A Bright Sound, a Bright Future: The Lauderdale County FFA String Band Make History and Serenade a Governor
- Katherine Armbrester
- May 1
- 4 min read
The Lauderdale County FFA (Future Farmers of America) String Band made history at last year’s National FFA Convention and Expo. The trio comprises Titus Thornton and brothers Conner and Ty McMeans, and they became not only the first band but also the first musical act from Alabama to win the organization’s prestigious talent competition.
All three boys were exceptionally young when they became interested in music. Conner began learning banjo at nine, and Titus was the same age when he became intrigued by the guitar. Soon after, he began singing and playing bass. Like his brother, Ty soon proved to be musically gifted as well and started taking fiddle when he was seven years old and began taking guitar lessons and four years later, he also began playing acoustic guitar.
Ivy Harbin, who teaches agriculture at Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, AL, is filled with praise for the three students, whom she met through her role as the school’s FFA advisor.
“Every performance offers heartfelt authenticity that reflects their agricultural heritage and small-town pride,” she says, and adds that each performance together has strengthened their bond, while also refining their musical sound.
She was instrumental in assembling what was eventually named the Lauderdale County FFA String Band after Conner and Ty’s father approached her while they were still in middle school, explaining they were interested in performing bluegrass. “I already knew Titus, who had been performing and singing locally on his own for quite some time,” Harbin recalls. She soon concluded that his vocals would complement the unique sound that the McMeans’s brothers were working hard to develop.
“She pulled us out from the crowd in middle school, and saw something in us,” Titus says.
Harbin recognized talent when she heard it. She does not have a formal background in music, but explains she grew up in a musical family.
One of Harbin’s former teachers was the bluegrass musician Russ Gant. She states that she has never forgotten him or his belief that Alabama was one of the last states in the nation to still hold true string band contests that preserve classic country, bluegrass, and gospel traditions.
“That respect for tradition and heritage is something that has stayed with me and continues to influence how I support students through this unique FFA opportunity,” she says.
Beyond the success of their band, all three members serve as officers in their FFA chapter. As if their musical aspirations were not enough to keep them busy in their free time, they also have participated in FFA-sponsored tractor driving, livestock evaluation, and land evaluation contests. Connor, Titus, and Ty’s commitment to their chapter has impressed Harbin. “Their involvement showcases the well-rounded spirit of today’s FFA members,” she says, “students who balance artistic talent with hands-on agricultural skills and community leadership.”
The talent competition has been a memorable part of the annual National FFA Convention and Expo for more than seventy years. After performing together for several years in both local and statewide shows, Harbin assured the boys that they were ready to enter the prestigious contest, and in 2024 the band placed as semifinalists. “The hardest part for us was trying to find a song to play at each level,” Ty says, and Titus concurs. “When choosing songs, we looked at what we thought was 'up and coming' on social media to get a good reaction from the crowd,” he says.
Titus and the McMeans brothers traveled to Indianapolis with their families for the 98th annual National FFA Convention and Expo. The three youths impressed the audience and judges with their lively and technically impressive set, which included a bluegrass rendition of “Simple Man” by the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.
On November 1, the Lauderdale County FFA String Band was declared the winner, a year after the three teens placed as semifinalists. Their winnings include a $250 cash prize, an invitation to guest judge the 2026 contest, and an enduring place in the history of the competition.
“We are all ecstatic,” Conner reveals. “Especially to be the first act from Alabama to hold this title.”
Reaction to the trio’s win was immediate, heartfelt, and celebrated across social media. The three youths departed Indianapolis as champions and were welcomed with pride when they returned home to Rogersville. The three triumphant musicians certainly delighted their advisor, without whom the band may have never formed.
“It has been an honor to support them and watch them grow from middle school students with raw ability into confident young musicians and leaders,” Harbin states. “Their success represents more than a trophy—it highlights what can happen when students are given opportunities to pursue their passions through FFA and are encouraged to stay true to who they are.” “I hope we are able to stay together and grow as musicians both individually and as a group,” Ty says of the trio’s future plans. Likewise, Titus also hopes the band will remain united and continue exploring musical genres, while attracting young audiences to bluegrass and country.
After celebrating their win and spending the holidays with their families, the Lauderdale County FFA String Band had one more important trip on their itinerary. On January 20th, the three national champions brought bluegrass to Montgomery—directly to Governor Kay Ivey’s office.
Being the consummate professional musicians that they are, the three musicians, clad in their navy signature jackets, did not reveal a sign of nervousness, and the governor was all smiles as she listened. Ivey later posted on her Instagram account that she “called for an encore,” and that the future of the band members “is every bit as bright as their sound.”
Having made their families, Harbin, and their hometown proud, bluegrass music will surely accompany Conner, Ty, and Titus on their college adventures and be a part of their bright futures.
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