Every now and then, someone comes along who reminds the rest of the world what we here in the Central Valley already know: Greatness grows in our backyard. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images Josh Allen isn’t just one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, he’s one of ours. A Firebaugh kid. A Valley kid. A product of wide-open skies, hard work, small-town grit, and a belief that where you start doesn’t limit how far you can go. And lately? He’s been stacking wins off the field, too, including being named to Forbes’ 2025 30 Under 30 list, a recognition usually reserved for Silicon Valley founders, chart-topping musicians, and world-changing innovators. Let’s take a minute and give the man his flowers, Central Valley style! Josh didn’t just become a great NFL quarterback, he became Josh Allen. One of the faces of the league, a franchise-changing leader, the heartbeat of Buffalo’s locker room. Multiple Pro Bowls, an AFC Championship appearance, one of the most dangerous dual-threat QBs in football, and more stiff-arms than should be legal. But ask him where home is? He’ll tell you every time: California’s Central Valley. Josh never forgets where he’s from. He comes back. He shows up. He invests. Millions raised for children’s hospitals, youth sports, and community programs yet he keeps the Valley close. Talks about us in interviews, wears Valley gear, reps the 559 and 209 with pride. Every kid out here dreaming big thinks: “If he can do it from Firebaugh, maybe I can too.” That’s impact. That’s legacy. That’s leadership. Why Josh Allen Means So Much to the Central Valley? Because he is us. Not polished. Not privileged. Not handed anything. He’s proof that: Hard work beats hype. Underdogs can win. Small towns produce big dreams. The Central Valley doesn’t just raise players – we raise leaders. And that’s why his story continues to inspire the way we live, work, lead, and yes, even how we show up in our Fresno and Clovis communities. Josh, from all of us at FresYes and across the Valley:We see you.We’re proud of you.And we’re cheering for you – every snap, every season, every chapter. You carry the Central Valley with you, and trust me… the Central Valley carries you right back. ...read more read less