With elections around the corner, those in office are making their rounds in hopes of understanding the communities they represent more. The same can be said for Ninth District Congresswoman Erin Houchin of Salem who visited Seymour during her 18-county tour Wednesday at Casey’s, 602 W. Tipton St.

Casey’s representatives walked Houchin around the store, speaking about inflation, governmental regulations within food and similar industries and Casey’s products and operations.

The store got the heads-up about Houchin’s visit last week. It was a surprise to Tabitha Hitchcock, an employee at Casey’s, but that didn’t change how she went about her job.

“I’ll do my job like I do any other day. […] They’re just another person,” Hitchcock said.

Dana Cochrane, who was making food at Casey’s, spoke to Houchin and the team as she was making a pizza. When asked what pizza to make, Houchin said she never had their pizza, but heard good things about their taco pizza. After some thinking, she decided on a chicken, bacon and ranch pizza.

Cochrane has been working with Casey’s on and off for 14 years. When she heard about Houchin visiting, Cochrane admitted she wasn’t even sure who Houchin was, and shared a similar sentiment to her coworker.

“It’s just another day here,” she said.

During Houchin’s time touring Casey’s, after seeing how the food was prepared and made, she moved to the register at the front of the store, where she checked out a couple of customers. Both customers were unsure about what was happening, not recognizing their congresswoman until it was explained to them.

By the end of her time there, Cochrane returned with the freshly made pizza, presenting it to Houchin.

From her visit, Houchin said the focus of the people came down to inflation and overregulation from the government within the industry. There’s a balance between the government being restrictive, but not too much so that it’ll take away consumer choice.

She also mentioned the upcoming farm bill, which is a law Congress passes every five years that greatly impacts the lives of farmers. In an agricultural community like Seymour, this is a concern that stands out.

Her goal through this visit was to “really get a first-hand experience for inflation” and understand the day-to-day struggles of those she is meant to represent.

To make her visits count, Houchin said that a good visit should be driven by being informative and educational, learning from those who live the lives she doesn’t. Successful visits are “sincere conversations about issues.”