Steve and Jane Fry were surprised with a We Kan! award December 10 in their Elk Falls Pottery Shop in Elk Falls.
The presentation was made by Marci Penner of the Kansas Sampler Foundation with help from the Fry's son, Zach, and his wife Laura, who helped plan the surprise. Laura encouraged locals and longtime friends to come to the pottery shop and act as if they were shopping. Steve and Jane soon realized that something was up and when Marci walked in the shop with Zach filming, they realized they were in for a surprise.
The short presentation included a round plate with the words “For Lifting All” engraved on it. The artist was Stacy Barnes of Greensburg. Pictures and snacks followed the ceremony.
Penner said, “Steve and Jane made the We Kan! award plates for almost 25 years so it was only fitting that they get an award, too. They lifted the 250 award winners who received the plates but their award is even more about their role in their community of 120ish people. From starting and continuing to make the Elk Falls Outhouse festival a huge event to their ongoing neighborly contributions of generosity, kindness, and connection, they lift all."
"They have also been a source of inspiration to me and our work at the Kansas Sampler Foundation," Penner added. "Elk Falls was one of the first towns my Dad and I came upon that showed us that even a small town has things to offer and how visiting with the people in a town helps you see it with new eyes. Jane and Steve were those people."
The Kansas Sampler Foundation, an Inman-based non-profit, has been choosing recipients every year since 1993 to show appreciation for dedicated work in helping preserve and sustain rural culture. KSF's We Kan! Network is made up of community leaders, doers, entrepreneurs, volunteers and rural advocates who desire to help rural communities be the best they can be at being themselves.
Steve and Jane Fry were the ninth of ten to receive the We Kan! award in 2025. The first eight were Cheryl Adelhardt, Harper; Kylee Bergstrom, Seneca; Caryl Hale, Norton; Shelly Hansel, Harper County; Sarah Kessinger, Marysville; Nick Levendofsky, Courtland; Susan McKenzie, White City; and Laura and Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, Winfield.
To see a list of all previous We Kan! award winners go to kansassampler.org.
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