Fort Calhoun seniors get firsthand look at politics

Published 1:55 pm Monday, October 12, 2026

Three Fort Calhoun High School seniors were in the audience Tuesday night when U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts was the guest at the Washington County Republicans’ monthly meeting at the American Legion. Madi Larrick, Ansley Elofson and Lydia Kmitta were there for their government class, taught by Marty Plum.

Kmitta explained that the state requires government students to attend something related to government, such as a school board meeting, a town meeting or a court case. “When this opportunity came up … we took it,” she said.

“While we’re here, we have to take notes. We have questions to answer over it. We actually have to take a selfie or … show proof that we’re here,” Larrick said. “And we’re really hoping we get extra credit,” she mused.

Washington County Republican Chairman John Orr introduced the three during the meeting and asked them to stand. “We have three … senior girls here at tonight’s meeting,” Orr said. After the introductions, one of the girls asked Ricketts if they could get a photo with him. “Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. As proof?” Orr said, laughing. “Just tell me when would be your best time,” Ricketts said.

“So I’m glad you’re here. Hopefully you get a little taste of … what it’s like,” Orr told them. “… Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it.”

It was the first time any of them had met someone at that level of government, Elofson said. She said it was good to get a preview of what she’ll face as an adult, instead of getting there someday and having it hit all at once. “Oh my gosh, wow. It just smacked me in the face with reality,” she said.

Larrick and Elofson had seen Ricketts’ commercials, and both said seeing him in person was different. Larrick said Ricketts talked to them face-to-face, as a person, not like a businessman. “He’s not all business all the time, which is … that was cool,” she said.

For Kmitta, what stood out was that someone with such a big title, someone they see around the state, came to a small community like Fort Calhoun. “We just casually get to be like … ‘Hey, let’s get a photo.’ And he’s just like, ‘Okay,'” she said.

When Ricketts finished his speech, Orr reminded him about the photo. “Don’t forget that picture with those ladies,” Orr said. “Oh, all right. No, I won’t,” Ricketts said.

“He was super nice too,” Elofson said. “I thought he was … a really good person.”

Larrick noticed how Ricketts handled himself when he arrived. “When he first walked in … he was like, ‘Nope, you guys do you first,'” she said. She said he sat down, listened and laughed along with everyone else. “I thought that was very respectful of him.”

Elofson had advice for other students. “I would say don’t be scared to … go to these meetings,” she said. “I know I was nervous, but … I would honestly go to another one.” She said it’s good to hear other perspectives and to know what you’re getting yourself into.

Larrick agreed. “It was an eye-opener,” she said. She said she had assumed everyone just sat and listened, and she didn’t expect people in the audience to question the speakers. “It was cool to see … how involved people were.”

Kmitta admitted that government and politics aren’t really her thing. “To be honest, no, but … it was just … a really cool experience,” she said. “Even if it was Democratic … it’s just such a cool experience to actually just sit and listen to how this works.”