Paul Vining helps community as regional Extension agent

When the Alabama Cooperative Extension System welcomed Paul Vining into its fold Oct. 16, 2017, ACES got more than just an employee with a master’s degree. The system got an employee with a passion for animals who has had hands-on experience in the field since he was 14 years old.

Vining is the regional Extension agent for animal science and forages for Northwest Alabama. His reach includes the counties of Franklin, Lawrence, Lauderdale, Colbert, Walker, Winston, Marion, Lamar and Fayette.

Before he came to work for Alabama Extension, Vining was the agriculture and natural resources agent and 4-H Youth Development agent at Purdue University for Orange County, Indiana, for two years.

“I like Franklin County. I’ve done several farm visits among other things in the area,” Vining said.

Soil and hay testing are two services Vining performs, along with helping educate citizens on topics like growing the proper warm and cold grass; using the correct herbicides; implementing strategies for weed control; and maintaining a balanced diet for their cattle – “Having the proper energy and protein balance is important for the different stages of their life, whether they’re lactating, dry or still growing,” Vining explained.

His knowledge of animal science and agriculture topics began when he was 14 and received a youth loan from the Farm Service Agency to purchase his own cattle. Vining was able to pay back the loan when he sold his Simmental Cattle five years later when he was about to start college.

“I knew that I liked working with animals and being outside. Getting the loan kind of made it like a business and a challenge at the same time,” he said.

Vining received a scholarship to Auburn University through ALFA to major in an agriculture field. He graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science.

From there he pursued his master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Florida, where his research focused on identifying factors affecting feed efficiency in beef cattle.

“I’m glad I was able to come back to Alabama. This job allows me to be more focused on things like beef cattle and forages,” Vining said.

In 2017 he also worked at the North Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association Bull Evaluation, where he aided with data collection. He said the evaluation is to determine whether the cattle are structurally sound, are capable of breeding and have a good feed-to-gain ratio. If the cattle pass the trial period, they go on to auction.

As far as his other work with Extension, Vining said he still helps out occasionally with 4-H activities.