Employee Spotlight: Scott Howerton

Job Title: Controller
Location: Verona Operations Center
Tenure: 21 years
Briefly describe your involvement in FFA. I am currently a sponsor of the FFA program at a local school. 
Tell us about your family. My wife, Kim, who I met in 1984 at Radford University, is an Augusta County middle school intervention specialist and math coach. We married in 1988 and have lived in Lyndhurst, Virginia since 1991. We have one son, Hunter, who graduated from Radford University in 2016 and also lives in Augusta County. He works for Hollister Corporation as a Training Coordinator.

What is your favorite childhood memory? I grew up in Colonial Heights, a small city 30 minutes south of Richmond. I lived on Swift Creek, which fed into the Appomattox and James Rivers. This provided a year-round playground for swimming, fishing, ice skating and other childhood adventures.
Pick your favorite decade and tell us why. I would have to say the 70s. Where do I begin?! First, the music – some of the best classic music ever made. Whether I am relaxed or stressed, 70s music gives me a sense of peace. Secondly, no cell phones!! We had more family outdoor activities without being distracted and we were also able to just be kids without the pressure of social media.
Tell us about your pets. I have two dogs. Bella is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever and Maggie is a 1-year-old Mini Aussie.

What is your favorite app and why? WAZE. Kim and I travel often to the Outer Banks, NC and drive through several small towns. Although I feel I am a good driver, I rely on WAZE to tell me where any hazards may be, in addition to alerting me of any speed traps.
What is your favorite season? My favorite season is definitely summer. I love outdoor activities, such as going to the beach, playing outdoor volleyball, gardening and just about anything outdoors. I also love daylight savings where you still have time after work to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
Tell us about your hobbies. I would say, first and foremost, playing outdoor sand or grass volleyball. It is still a sport, at my age, that I can compete in, while providing much needed exercise and the chance to interact with some really nice people.
Have you ever collected anything? I don’t have a large collection, but I enjoy owning and restoring old classic cars. I currently have a 1971 Toyota Landcruiser and a 1969 Chevrolet C-10 pickup. I previously owned two ‘71 and ‘72 Chevrolet Corvettes. There’s something special about owning a 50-year-old car that keeps or increases in value, looks totally different than modern cars and if something does break, it can be fixed in my own garage.

What was your first job? Like many kids in my area, my first job was a lifeguard. I loved swimming, so what better job to have and also get paid?
What advice would you give a job seeker who is considering a job at Farm Credit of the Virginias? If you are looking for a rewarding career, where you can grow professionally, work with dedicated and committed individuals that treat others with respect, is a mission-focused organization and provides great benefits, this is your place. In addition, the cooperative structure has a proven financial track record of providing financing to rural borrowers over the past 100 years during good and uncertain times.
What are your favorite weekend activities? If Kim and I are not at the beach, then we enjoy spending time at home with family and friends, listening to local music, or working on home DIY projects.