Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Family and Purpose Through Agriculture

For many members, the blue jacket is more than just corduroy — it’s a symbol of belonging. For me, it became something even more personal. It became proof that I could grow into someone I wasn’t sure I could be — and along the way, it gave me a family I didn’t even know I had.

When I first joined FFA, I wasn’t just looking for leadership opportunities or a place to compete. If I’m being honest, I was trying to figure out who I was. I wanted to be someone people respected. Someone confident. Someone who had it all together. But at that point in my life, I didn’t feel like that person at all.

So, I did what many others would do — I faked it.

I showed up to events, spoke when I was nervous and stepped into leadership roles, even when I doubted myself. On the outside, it probably looked like confidence. But on the inside, I was still struggling — trying to mature, trying to be more humble, trying to prove to myself that I could actually become the person I was pretending to be.

And somewhere along the way…something changed.

FFA didn’t just give me chances to lead — it forced me to grow. It surrounded me with people who pushed me, believed in me and showed me what real leadership and humility actually look like. Slowly, I stopped pretending. I started becoming.

At the same time, my personal life was shifting, too.

A few years ago, I found out that the man I had always believed was my biological dad wasn’t. That kind of news can shake your identity — make you question where you come from and where you fit. But even through that, the family who had always been by my side never wavered. They supported me, grounded me and reminded me that family is about more than just biology.

Still, I didn’t realize just how much that idea would come full circle.

Freshman year, I was looking to start my Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) and get into showing sheep. I reached out to someone involved in agriculture who had sheep of his own. It was just a simple message — or at least I thought it was. That person was Christopher Sarnik.

After I reached out, my mom made a connection that completely changed everything. The person I had contacted about sheep…was actually my brother.

I didn’t even know what to think. I had always wanted a brother, and there he was — someone I had already met through FFA, someone I had looked up to without even realizing why. He had served as Connecticut’s state FFA vice president and even ran as a national officer candidate. I had seen him as a leader…but I had no idea he was family.

What started as me trying to build an SAE turned into me finding a piece of my life I didn’t know was missing.

And it didn’t stop there.

Through FFA, I also built a relationship with my sister, Kenzie Sarnik. What started as shared experiences through agriculture and events turned into something deeper — the kind of bond where you know someone will always be there for you, no matter what.

Looking back, it’s crazy to think about.

I joined FFA trying to become someone. Trying to prove something. Trying to figure myself out.

And in the process, I found growth. I found confidence that didn’t have to be faked anymore. I learned humility — not just how to lead, but how to listen, how to support others and how to be real.

And somehow, in the middle of all of that…I found my siblings.

FFA talks about premier leadership, personal growth and career success — and all of that is true. But what it gave me goes beyond anything you can put on a résumé.

It gave me identity. It gave me purpose. It gave me family.

Family isn’t always about what you’re born into. Sometimes, it’s about the people who walk into your life, stand beside you and help you become the person you were meant to be.

FFA didn’t just help me find who I am; it helped me find where I belong. FFA creates a family, opens doors to endless opportunities and shapes you into a stronger version of yourself.

And I’m living proof of that.