LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky senior Dylan Gentry has always enjoyed talking to groups and undertaking difficult tasks. When he was recently selected to represent the United States as part of the Global 4-H Network he felt right at home.

The Global 4-H Network is comprised of delegates from 70 countries and represents the world’s seven million 4-Hers. He is one of just three North American delegates. Gentry was selected by the National 4-H Council after a national application process.

“When I was a senior in high school, I was on the State Team Council, which is a group of the top high school 4-Hers in Kentucky,” Gentry said. “That group of 30 elite students were an amazing influence on me and that led to me becoming the 4-H state treasurer. Being state treasurer allowed me to see the national and international opportunities such as this one, and that’s where I am today.”

Flashback, if you will. When Gentry was a pre-teen, he wanted to become a Boy Scout, not a 4-H-er.

“My father being the Green County 4-H agent got me started in 4-H,” Gentry recalls. “When I was a young boy, I told my dad I wanted to be in the Boy Scouts and not 4-H, but by the time I got into middle school my mind changed when I saw all the leadership activities and the opportunity to meet new friends. I liked the social aspect of 4-H.”

The ‘hook’, Dylan says, was the speech component of a 4-H County Ham project that he started his freshman year in high school. And it wasn’t ham curing process that thrilled him, but rather the three-to-five-minute speech on the topic that opened this door.

Going from a tiny, cured ham project to the world stage. Not bad for one who never worked the farm.

“I grew up on a farm but never worked on one,” Dylan said. “If you told me to go out and cut hay for the cows, I wouldn’t be able to do that. But I grew up with people who did work the farm, so I have a great appreciation for all their hard work. My grandfather is a farmer, and I grew up on his farm. He works tirelessly every day, so that’s where my appreciation for agriculture comes from.”

During their annual meeting this month, delegates will discuss ways they can promote 4-H across the world and use 4-H to enhance economies and communities. Gentry will speak on behalf of the U.S. during the summit. During his yearlong appointment, he will also speak on behalf of 4-H programs in the U.S. as requested.

 “This is a new, exciting opportunity for me to represent UK, Kentucky 4-H and the United States,” said Gentry, a family sciences and community and leadership development double major from Greensburg.

Rachel Noble, Kentucky 4-H youth development specialist, encouraged Gentry to apply. As a UK student, Gentry served two semesters as Noble’s intern.

Gentry’s first internship was through the UK Cooperative Extension Service summer internship program. His second internship with Noble was part of a national grant to support the Globalizing Extension Innovation Network.

“Dylan is a prime candidate to represent Kentucky 4-H and the U.S. because he has extensive involvement with 4-H and a good understanding of 4-H youth development and the national Cooperative Extension System,” Noble said.

 At UK, Gentry serves as president of the Collegiate 4-H. He has also interned with Jennifer Hunter, assistant director for family and consumer sciences extension and Jordan Crain, Green County family and consumer sciences extension agent. He was the Kentucky state 4-H treasurer for 2018-2019 and a program assistant to the 2017-2018 state 4-H officers.

 “With the world being more connected now than ever, I hope to get a more holistic understanding of how the Cooperative Extension Service interacts with different counties,” he said.

Dylan plans to become an extension agent upon graduation.