Cumberland Middle School eighth-grader and Future Farmers of America (FFA) member Jordan Newman recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to a special meeting at the White House.

“The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted a meeting on ‘Raising the Profile of Agriculture’ in D.C.,” Division Superintendent Dr. Amy Griffin said in a press release.

“This was a discussion about agricultural sciences and recruiting students interested in agriculture, technology, engineering, etc., to tackle food production. The event serves as a ramp-up for the release of the White House’s agricultural policy paper centered on a need for fulfillment of agricultural jobs to feed a hungry world.”

After taking home a first-place award for his agriscience project at the Virginia State Fair last year, Newman won the fourth-place highest silver award at the Eastern States Exposition, or the Big E, in Springfield, Mass.

According to Lindsay Talbott, the horticulture and agriculture teacher at Cumberland Middle School, Newman was chosen from his FFA roster to attend the special meeting based on his agriscience project titled “Who’s Lamb Gained the Most.”

His project, focused on the health and weight of baby lambs, gave him the opportunity to compete in the Eastern Regional Future Farmers of America (FFA) contest, according to a press release.

Newman attended the meeting in December, and was joined by his grandfather Henry Paris and FFA students from Pylesville, Md.

“With support from the community as well as administration, we have really set the bar high,” Talbott said.

“[Henry] Paris, Jordan’s grandfather, serves on the agricultural advisory committee  and has been a great help to myself and Jordan. The White House was so lucky to have Jordan visit, as he is a great model and attains so many attributes of what FFA is all about.”

Griffin said it was good to see Newman interacting with prominent White House and government officials to discuss agriculture, agriscience research and agricultural education.

“Jordan is just the model student and FFA member,” Talbott said. “He’s hard-working,  smart and so dedicated  to serving his chapter of FFA. This is the second year that Cumberland has had an active chapter after a dormant period of about 20 years. So, needless to say, Jordan has certainly made us proud.”

Jordan is the son of Melissa and Doug Newman, of Cartersville.