Deane Bozeman student receives the first Stars of Florida Award

WASHINGTON CO, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – A local high school athlete is proving there is more than one way to be a star on the field.

From one field to another Peyton Gay is a proven star.

“Last year we were sitting at the state convention, and I looked at Mrs. Peltonen. and I was like Mrs. Peltonen I want to win this. I want to be that guy on stage.” And one year later. On June 12th Peyton Gay became the first student from Bozeman to win the Stars of Florida award.

The Stars of Florida award is the highest agriculture award a student can earn at the state level. Peyton was the first student from Deane Bozeman to earn this achievement.

For his project, Peyton submitted his work with special geese. Something his grandmother introduced him to in 2019, and he quickly became attached.

“They are on the threaten list. And I’ve been trying to help them get off the threatened list,” said Stars of Florida recipient Peyton Gay. “So, my grandma got four back in 2019. And then I kind of took it over and started taking care of them and raising them and starting to get more and helping them lay.”

With the help of incubators and humidifiers, they were able to go from 4 special geese to raising over 300.

Peyton says none of this would be possible without the support around him.

“My grandma Mamba has been the big reason for all of this. She went out and got them. And she started this whole thing. And I kind of took it over and she guided me. Whenever I wasn’t here whether it be football camps or football games and I didn’t get back at 12 o’clock at night. She was out there feeding them for me and helping me. My mom was out there feeding and helping me. My grandpa was out there feeding and supporting me. I mean everyone has just helped me when I couldn’t do it because I had other things.”

This was a win for Bozeman, but Peyton dedicates this award to his Agriculture teacher Mrs. Becky Peltonen. Peyton said he didn’t know the words to express how he felt about her, and he’s thankful for her to be a part of his journey.

Peyton Gay will attend Texas A&M in the Fall. He will be on their football team and in their agriculture program.

He says football is his first love, but farming and animals are something he wants to do for the rest of his life. After he graduates college, he wants to be a travel veterinarian and specialize in surgery for big animals.

Copyright 2024 WJHG. All rights reserved.