When Sofía Muñiz put on the blue corduroy FFA jacket for the first time in eighth grade, she had no idea that she would eventually go on to become the first female national officer candidate from Puerto Rico in 13 years.
“When I decided to run, I found out that a lot of students were looking for me,” Muñiz says. “I didn’t know that students were looking for my [presence] as a role model because I [speak] Spanish and I am Latina.”
With Spanish being the predominant language in Puerto Rico, Muñiz recognizes the hardships that come with being a non-native English speaker. She says she believes it is her responsibility to show other Puerto Rico FFA members and non-English speakers that they can still be an equal part of FFA too.
While preparing for her national office candidacy, Muñiz says she spent two months of her summer learning and practicing her English to put her best foot forward for the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo. She felt members would value that representation at the national level and she wanted to give it her all.
“Students from across the nation are looking for someone like me, and I want to foster change.”
Muñiz goes about creating this change through student leadership. In 2020, she was elected to serve as the Puerto Rico FFA state president and promoted a message that anything is possible in both FFA and agriculture. In fact, her motto for students is to, “be the hero you never had.”
Despite serving at a high level in FFA, Muñiz continues to find ways to give back at home. Over the last year, she has served her chapter of Antonio Romero Muñiz FFA.
Her motivation to become a national officer candidate began when she helped her chapter grow from 19 members to over 60 members in the span of a year.
“I thought, I want to do this more. I want to [know] that members feel good here.”
Muñiz’s vision of FFA is optimistic – one of determination for equal access and opportunity.
When asked what she loves most about FFA, she says it is the opportunities that can change your life.
“I always [say] the train of opportunity comes only once and you are the one deciding if you get on or just [let it pass you by].”
