Inspire Kentucky Kids Today
Board Chairman
Brent Hutchinson is Executive Director of Hindman Settlement School in Knott County. Hindman Settlement School, founded in 1902, was the first and most successful rural settlement in the United States, modeled after urban centers such as Toynbee Hall in London, England and Hull House in Chicago. The School seeks to provide education and service opportunities to people of the mountains while keeping them mindful of their heritage. Notably, Hindman Settlement School forged a strategic partnership over four decades ago to make way for Knott County’s first 4-H agent. The Settlement taught extension education to their students throughout the early-middle twentieth century.
Hutchinson comes to the board as a former 4-Her from Lawrence County and credits 4-H with his lifelong passion for leadership and learning. Brent earned the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from Dallas Baptist University, with a special focus on servant, public, and cultural leadership. He also holds degrees from Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky College of Human Environmental Science (now the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment).
Brent’s earliest 4-H experience was attending 4-H Camp at the Diederich 4-H Center in Rush and enjoyed speech and demonstration competitions; and horticulture, forestry, and poultry judging, which earned him a spot on Kentucky’s ranked poultry and avian bowl teams two consecutive years. Brent attended the inaugural Issues Conference in 1989 and attended Senior Conference (now Teen Conference) every year he was eligible, enjoying this the most!
As an older teen and, eventually, collegiate member, Brent worked as a 4-H camp staffer at Diederich for one summer; represented Kentucky at the National 4-H Conference in Silver Springs, Maryland; served as a three-year member of the State Teen Council, winning the Conrad Feltner Leadership Award; and, ultimately, was elected Vice President of Kentucky 4-H, serving from 1993-94.
Dr. Hutchinson is married to Gwen, and they have two sons, Adam and Miles, who are both enjoying being part of their local 4-H clubs.
