Part Of History: Barrineau Park 4-H Club

June 15, 2010

The Barrineau Park 4-H Club has been honored as being the oldest continuing 4-H Club in Florida, and the club has made a special presentation to ensure its history will be preserved.

During Saturday’s Blueberry Jamboree, club members presented a commemorative gavel, book, certificate and other items to the Barrineau Park Historical Society. The historical society will preserve the items in their museum located in the Barrineau Park Community Center.

The Barrineau Park 4-H Club was founded as an agricultural club in 1914 and organized as a 4-H Club in 1917. The club started with a small group of boys under the supervision of the local agricultural agent with about a dozen members. Lewis Floyd of Barrineau Park was one of the early members, remaining in the club until he turned 18 in 1922; he then became one of the club leaders.

Dorothy Gindl Casey remembers her early days in the club. “When I joined, it was a boys’ club and a (separate) girls’ club in the 1930’s,” she said.

Longtime member Francis Gindl has been a member or involved with the leadership of the Barrineau Park club for 47 years.

“They were all good 4-H’ers,” he said of his memories of the club’s early days. “They didn’t get in trouble being in 4-H.”

Gindl’s son Bobby Gindl serves as the modern-day leader of the Barrineau Park 4-H Club, following in the footsteps of his father.

“It has made a huge impact on my life,” the younger Gindl said. “I ended up becoming an agricultural teacher.”

The Barrineau Park 4-H Club meets at 2 p.m. on the third Sunday of the each month at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church at 3015 St. Elizabeth Street, near the intersection of Barrineau Park Road and Jacks Branch Road.

The 4-H Club is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.

Pictured top: Former 4-H Leader Francis Gindl, Barrineau Park 4-H Club Leader Francis Gindl, and former member Dorothy Gindl Casey. Pictured below: Current Barrineau Park 4-H Club President Austin Dodd, 13, and Inspirational Leader Emily Boutwell, 8. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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