Roger Vines was raised in Mt. Olive, Alabama but spent his entire career with Extension in Coosa County. Vines obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University and his Master of Science degree from Louisiana State University.
 
Vines started as an Assistant County Agent and worked his way through the ranks to County Coordinator. He enjoyed the diversity of the work, “learning about everything from forestry to aquaculture, horticulture, livestock and more”.
 
Dr. Paul Waddy served as a valued mentor, “he was always encouraging, treated me like a friend and always expected results.” And Vines expected results from those he mentored too. He coached ten Wildlife State Champion teams and three National Champion teams. He also coached five Forestry State Champion teams and three National Champion teams. Vines is also proud of creating a County 4-H Wildlife Refuge and building Coosa County’s first 4-H Club House, which is still in use today.  The program “Grow your Own”, which he initiated in Coosa County, was later adopted in other counties, and came to be known as “Home Grown Workshops.”

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Environmental stewardship has been a common theme in Vines’ career.  Coosa County gained more Certified Treasure Forests than any other county during his tenure. He also served as Chairman for the State Environmental Stewardship Conference for several years. He wishes the conference could be revived as it was a great educational program for 4-H youth.
 
Vines is enjoying retirement with his wife, Laurie, on a 100-acre farm (selected as a Helen Mosley Treasure Forest). He is proud of both of his daughters. Emily is a professional artist and lives in Colorado with her husband, an airline pilot.  Anna received her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She and her high school-sweetheart husband have returned to Alabama. Their daughter, Elizabeth Grace enjoys her grandparents, the farm and fishing.
 
Church, hunting, fishing, and music are Vines’ strong interests when he’s not working on the farm.  Songwriting and performing music have led to the release of two titles (available on i-Tunes and Spotify): “Kudzu Kountry” and “Kudzu Korner.” He notes, “like I tell folks, my songs are called kudzu country music because if you give it time it will ‘grow on you’.”