b'Educator SpotlightBill DavenportReturning to Litchfield County 4-H as an EducatorAfter thirty-three years as an agriscienceteaching and have enjoyed working withThe basis of 4-H is teaching the teacher at Nonnewaug High Schoolhigh school students. As an agriscienceimportance of farming and the natural in Woodbury, William Davenport hasteacher, I was heavily involved with FFA,world, but it also includes so many life found his way back to his early groundingand now I have the opportunity to bringskills such as public speaking, leadership, in 4-H. He began work as assistantagriculture to younger kids. One ofcommunication, self-confidence and extension educator in charge of 4-Hhis goals is to increase after school 4-Hcommunity service, as well as STEM programming in Litchfield County inprogramming as a way of introducingprograms and many other activities.July 2019. Davenport is a graduate of theadditional students to 4-H. Those life skills will go a long way college, having earned bachelor of scienceThe program has unlimited potential,toward helping students in their careers. and master of science degrees in animalhe says. Particularly for families withTo highlight this point, Davenport asked science, then sixth year in administrationyoung children looking for an activityone of his students to speak at a regional and supervision at Southern Connecticutthat is wholesome and educational, whileFFA advisory meeting. Bill Davenport gets some advice on using a micropipette from Yi Ma, left, a former postdoctoral research State University. associate, and Gerald Berkowitz, professor of plant science and landscape architecture as part of Camp being open and welcoming to all studentsHe says, These meetings are attendedDNA at UConn. We are pleased to have Bill join theof any background. by people in the agricultural industry. Extension team as an accomplished agriscience educator who brings a wealthAn industry expert stood up after thisUSA Todays 2005 All-USA Teacher of experience in STEM, agriculturalstudents presentation and said that sheTeam, 2004-2005 NAAE Outstanding literacy and leadership development,interviews for hundreds of positions aAgricultural Education Teacher for says Bonnie Burr, assistant director ofyear and would hire the presenter imme- Region VI and 2005 NAAE Syngenta UConn Extension. Bill will be carryingdiately as she had not observed such poiseAdvocate for Agricultural EducationArticle by Kim Colavito Markesichout programs with the countys 929and confidence in many applicants withTeacher Award. He is a member of theContactyouth ages 5-19 and eighty-nine enrolled/ advanced degrees. Thats what we teach inConnecticut State Board of EducationBill Davenporttrained volunteers. He will also be devel- 4-H and FFA. and the National FFA Alumni andwilliam.davenport@uconn.edu oping and implementing statewide 4-HDavenport would like to see stateSupporters Council and served on the4-H.uconn.edulivestock-related programs. 4-H and FFA work together. Think ofNational FFA board of directors from Growing up in Litchfield County,what we could do collectively to help2013 to 2016.Davenport loved being a member ofagricultural literacy and the agriculturalDavenport houses twenty registered 4-H. He attended UConn with the ideaindustry, he says. Ayrshire and Holstein dairy cows of becoming a 4-H agent. But when theDavenport grew up on a dairy farm andat his brothers dairy farm, near the position in his county was filled by a newfound 4-H dairy and livestock judging toConnecticut border in Ancram, New young agent, it was suggested he considerbe a rewarding experience. He plans toYork, and five heifers at his family home-ag education. He changed his focus andrevitalize interest in 4-H livestock judging.stead, Toll Gate Farm, in Litchfield. He set a new goal. Id like to develop 4-H teams that com- lives with his wife Jill (Perham), also a Now Im back to my original plan andpete nationally. Id also be interested inUConn animal science graduate, and two Im very excited to have this second careermentoring UConn judging teams. daughters, Megan, a sophomore majoring in my life, he says. As an educator, Davenport has receivedin animal science and agricultural educa-tion at UConn and Allison, a high school Davenport plans to build the 4-Hnumerous honors, including 2004senior will be at UConn in fall 2020. HEprogram and expand the clubs. I loveConnecticut State Teacher of the Year, Bill Davenport on his home farm with one of his dairy cows. Photo courtesy of Litchfield Hills 24 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION Photography, LLC. 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 25'