Building Stronger Communities
CALS Graduate Thrives as Relationship Manager
Being an active and contributing member of his community is essential to Stephen Parrott. As a relationship manager with Northwest Farm Credit Services, Parrott is able to contribute to his community and also help farmers and growers.
Parrott joined Northwest Farm Credit Services in Ontario, Oregon immediately upon graduation from the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2012 with a degree in agribusiness. He manages a portfolio of ranchers and farmers and assists them with their financial needs.
“I help ensure that they have the proper cash flow,” he said. “They invest a lot of money into that ground, so I help secure financing needs that help them operate throughout the year.”
Northwest Farm Credit Services is a customer-owned financial cooperative, which allows Parrott to get involved in his community through the local FFA and 4-H groups. He also enjoys interacting with the farmers he works with.
“They are pretty fun to work with,” Parrott said. “They always have new, big and exciting ideas. They are always more than willing to show you what they’re doing or something new that they’ve tried.”
Parrott grew up in Buhl and always knew that he wanted to remain active in agriculture. He participated in FFA as a high school student and was able to visit UI’s Moscow campus several times. His interactions with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences during those events helped with his college decision.
“I looked at all of the colleges in the state and a few out of state,” he said. “I always remember how friendly the College of Ag was. I was really impressed with how easy it was to build a relationship with the college.”
While at UI, Parrott took advantage of as many extracurricular opportunities as he could. He was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Ag Business club, Student Alumni Relations Board and Associated Students of the University of Idaho, serving as president his junior year. Parrott also completed several internships including a summer interning for U.S. Sen. Jim Risch.
“The internships I perused broadened my knowledge and were a little more unique than relating just to finance,” he said.
Parrott said faculty members, like his advisor Chris McIntosh from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, helped shape his time at UI.
“You get a great education, especially when it comes to agriculture because you are exposed to so many broad things,” he said. “UI is at a size where you know the dean of your college and you have opportunities that you wouldn’t have at larger schools.”
Wherever his future takes him, Parrott’s main goal will be to continue his involvement with his community.
“I’m always looking to be challenged and move up, whether in my current position, moving into management, or trying different things, but my number one thing is to always feel like I’m contributing to the community I’m living in.”