University of Kentucky senior Dylan Gentry was selected to represent the United States as part of the Global 4-H Network. He is one of three North American delegates.  

“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. 

Gentry was selected by the National 4-H Council after a national application process. The Global 4-H Network is comprised of delegates from 70 countries and represents the world’s 7 million 4-H’ers. During their annual summit in September, 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 U.S. 4-H programs as requested.  

“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 countries,” he said. 

 Rachel Noble, Kentucky 4-H youth development specialist, encouraged Gentry to apply. As a UK student, Gentry served two semesters as Noble’s intern. His first internship was through the UK Cooperative Extension Service summer internship program. In this position, he served as Noble’s intern for leadership and international programs. His second internship with Noble was part of a national grant to support the Globalizing Extension Innovation Network. 

“Dylan was 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 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. The son of Green County 4-H agent Tyrone Gentry, Dylan Gentry has grown up in the organization.   

He plans to become an extension agent after graduation.