New England Patriots defensive lineman Joshua Farmer is returning to his roots this weekend, hosting the first youth football camp of his career Saturday at Gadsden County High School.
Farmer, a former Gadsden County High standout who went on to play at Florida State, said he is eager to give back to the community that helped shape him by providing a free learning opportunity for local athletes.
“I think I’ll be a very emotional man because of how far I’ve come. I’ve been chasing this dream my whole life, and I finally got a hold of it,” Farmer said to WCTV.
“I just want to help others get here. It’s really fun. I get paid seven figures to do something you love, to play a child’s game at the end of the day. If I can help 5, 6, 7 kids, then they can go help kids. We can get more guys from the North Florida area in the NFL, and that’s my goal.”
The camp is open to children ages 7 to 17 and will be split into two sessions. Younger participants will take the field from 9 to 11 a.m., followed by a session for high school-aged players from noon to 2 p.m.
Now entering his second NFL season with New England, Farmer hopes the camp will offer instruction, inspiration and a chance for young players to learn from someone who once stood in their shoes.
For Farmer, the event marks not just a milestone in his professional career, but an opportunity to invest in the next generation in Gadsden County.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics and Big Bend Preps for the Tallahassee Democrat. If you like to pitch a story on a high school athlete, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Patriots DT Joshua Farmer returns to Gadsden County to host youth camp
Reporting by Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Peter Holland Jr., Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
