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Morgan County NRCS/SWCD Proud of Successful Conservation District Intern

by Myra Badger, Public Relations, Morgan County SWCD, Hartselle, Alabama

(This is the first installment of success stories about Morgan County interns.)

Vinzant with finance Leslie This past fall, the Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District and the NRCS hosted the annual FFA land judging contest for area schools. Attending the contest was Robby Vinzant who is no stranger to NRCS.

Robby is a former intern who worked with the Hartselle NRCS during the summer of 1999. Now teaching Agriscience at Speake High School in Lawrence County, Vinzant brought his class to the Morgan County land judging event for a practice run in preparation for the District competition.

After seeing Robby in action with his class, there was a sense of pride that grew from the Hartselle NRCS and the District employees that one of their interns was now actively promoting agriculture to the youth of Alabama. This created speculation as to what other Morgan County interns have accomplished. What impact did their time spent at the NRCS have on their career choices?

A little research into the lives of these interns uncovered some interesting information. In fact, impressed with the success of these interns, the Morgan County NRCS and District decided to highlight a few of their accomplishments.

Vinzant came to Hartselle NRCS in the summer before enrolling at Auburn University where he earned a degree in forestry. Robby said, "I’ve had an interest in agriculture since Jr. High when Billy Bryan, retired Agriscience teacher at Falkville High School, encouraged me to take agriculture. That’s why I chose forestry as a major. I wanted to do something in agriculture."

Vinzant and students prepare for food drive. "Working at the NRCS actually sparked my interest to further my education in Agriscience," states Vinzant as he recalls fond memories of field visits with Morgan County NRCS technician Fred Evans and Flint Creek Watershed Project Coordinator Brad Bole as they visited farms to layout ponds, fords, and fencing. "We did a lot of field visits and public relations," he said, speaking of the skills he learned while working with the NRCS. "I used these skills in my co-op job with TVA as a right-of-way specialist before I went back to school," he added.

Vinzant continued his education and received a Master’s degree from Auburn in Agriscience Education. It was during his student teaching at West Point High School that representatives from Speake High School came looking for an Agriscience teacher. Vinzant took the teaching position and within a short time took his students to the national level in Floriculture and Nursery-Landscape and earned a 2-Star National Chapter Award.

Robby speaks with pride when asked about his students. He states, "They love to compete." He mentions how Agriscience is a good learning tool because it develops other skills not often thought of when Agriscience is mentioned. On of his current students not only has excelled in animal science earning state level awards, but she discovered by opportunity through the Agriscience class that she has the ability for public speaking.

Vinzant uses stories of his days at the NRCS for illustrations when teaching agriculture in his class. "Without my mention of the NRCS, these students would know nothing of it," states Robby, emphasizing his desire for his students to know what the NRCS is and what it does. Students do learn briefly of the agencies that regulate agriculture areas, but nothing makes these agencies seem as important to them than when they hear stories of their teacher and his involvement in those agencies.

Vinzant’s career choice in Agriscience education cannot all be credited to his time spent at the NRCS, but it did have a definite impact in his concern that his students learn about conservation in agriculture. "Robby is a wonderful representative of agriculture and conservation to our community and the youth of today," states Foy Kirkland, NRCS District Conservationist. "The Morgan County NRCS and the District are very proud to have been an instrumental part of his life," Kirkland added.