Congressman Smith answers questions posed by students

LITCHFIELD – Caden Holm of Litchfield Public School, received Congressional recognition from Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith May 4.

Caden’s artwork titled “America’s Pasttime” placed fourth in Nebraska’s Third District Congressional Art Competition.

Caden created the design in copper sheeting with a special pencil and used liver of sulfur to create a patina for the background. He explained the image is a baseball bat hitting a baseball over a baseball field. “You can see the baselines, the grass of the outfield and the lights in the background,” he said.

Caden graduated May 7. He plans to attend Hasting college where he will study K-12 education and business and also play baseball. Caden plays center field and pitcher with the Broken Bow American Legion team. “It’s pretty cool” he said of the art competition. “To see baseball on the art stage is pretty cool, too.”

Caden’s parents are Tina and Jim Holm.

Third District Congressman Adrian Smith visited Litchfield Public Schools to congratulate Caden and answer student questions about being a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“It’s good to celebrate the good things that are happening,” Smith said. “It is great to see the talents of students,”

Many of the questions asked of Smith were simple such as “Where did you grow up?” and “What’s your favorite food?” Smith answered, “Scottsbluff/Gering” and “Anything with beef.” A few questions asked by upper classmen focused on Smith’s voting record, mail-in ballots and where Smith was on Jan. 6, 2020 when protesters stormed into the U.S. Capitol.

Smith said he doesn’t track the number of times he has voted bi-partisan. “I don’t think that is a good barometer,” he said. “I do vote Republican more often than Democrat because that reflects the people at home in the Third District.”

Of Jan. 6, he said he was on his way to the Capitol but it had already closed and he spent six hours in the basement of his office building. “What happened is very disturbing,” he said. “What took place on Jan. 6 was wrong.”

He said protesters don’t affect his vote. “My votes reflect what Nebraskans want,” he said.

He acknowledged current challenges such as inflation, high gas prices and war in Ukraine. However, he said, “We as a country stand for freedom and opportunity ... I believe our country has more opportunities than anywhere else in the

Mona Weatherly Holm family members joined in for a photo with Congressman Smith and Caden Holm’s artwork that will hang in Smith’s Scottsbluff office for the next year. From left are Congressman Smith; Caden’s mother Tina Holm; sister Jenna Holm, 5th grade; Caden Holm; and sister Alison Holm, 6th grade. Also present but not pictured was Caden’s grandmother, Ann Holm.