The Agri - Science Program

Driving Directions to the Ellis Clark Regional Agri-Science and Technology Center

The Vocational Agriculture Program at the Ellis Clark Regional Agri-Science and Technology Center located at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, Connecticut is one of the largest and most popular in the country with over 300 students from 23 different towns.  This Vo-Ag program was started by Ellis Clark, the first Vo-Ag teacher at Woodbury High School in 1920.  This Program was originally a farming school for boys, with no FFA connection for 8 years, hence the National FFA was formed in 1928.  The program stayed at Woodbury High School until 1970, when a new High School and Agri-Science Building was constructed in Woodbury.  The High School and Ag program were both designed to accommodate students from Region 14 School District.  As the years went on students from more and more towns began attending Nonnewaug High School for the Vo-Ag Program.  After that, the Agri-science building was then renovated and expanded in 1997 - 1999 to its current status today. 

The following Connecticut Towns allow students to attend Nonnewaug High School for the Agri-Science Program - Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethel, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Oxford, Prospect, Roxbury, Seymour, Sherman, Southbury, Washington, Watertown, and Woodbury.

For all students that live in Woodbury or Bethlehem, Nonnewaug High School is their regional High School.  These students go here whether or not they are in the Ag program.  Students from Woodbury and Bethlehem do have the opportunity to be in the Ag program but do not have to be.  Students that attend Nonnewaug from the other 20 towns are provided with free transportation from their sending school districts, and must be enrolled in the Agri-science program in order to attend Nonnewaug.  All students that would like to be in the Agri-science program from any of the 22 towns must complete an application during their eighth grade school year.  The application includes teachers statements, statements from any leaders of community groups (scouts, church, etc.), grades in middle school, guidance counselors recommendations, and a short statement from the student applying.  Students who would like to attend Nonnewaug are also interviewed at their middle school as part of the application process by Mr. Davenport, the Agri-science program director.  A committee of teachers and guidance counselors then looks at all applications and interview notes and decides who will be accepted.  Usually, there are approximately 125 - 150 applications filed for 75 openings.  Those 75 lucky students then receive acceptance letters, and then others are put on a waiting list.  These students are accepted if students decide not to come to Nonnewaug, that were originally accepted. 

The Ellis Clark Regional Agri-Science and Technology program's building is one of the largest and most state of the art around.  It includes six classrooms, an office, a small animal lab, a large animal lab, a conservatory, three greenhouses, a head house, a food science lab with walk in refrigerator/ freezer, a six bay garage, a large shop area for engine, metal, and wood work, a maple sugar shack, and barn that was renovated by the students for livestock and horses.  The School has five tractors, a Ford F-350 crew cab pickup, a large International dump truck, a 28 passenger bus, haying equipment, a sawmill, a maple syrup evaporator, various welding equipment, various small and large animals, and three horses. 

Photos

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