Willman received a BS from Penn State University and MS from the University of Minnesota. After one year as a county agent in Pennsylvania he accepted a position at Cornell University in 1929 and worked as a professor in the Department of Animal Science until his retirement in 1964. He devoted his career to the youth of New York State as the state leader for 4-H dairy and livestock projects and was known nationwide for his 4-H work and publications.
4-H animal projects increased from 1,500 to 13,000 under his guidance. He led membership growth, leadership training, and herd building through a strong program of record keeping, demonstration work, exhibiting, showmanship, judging and cooperative effort. He developed hundreds of bulletins, 4-H leader lessons, service letters and record books on all livestock classes. After retirement he was active with the State 4-H Foundation and continued to prepare teaching aids.
