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Steve and Jane Fry
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| November 5, 2005--It’s not how to run a business. No internet site, not really concerned with hundreds of more customers --- sound strange? It’s not if you are a potter in Elk Falls, Kansas. Steve and Jane Fry do very well thank you, without the rest of the world beating a path to their door. |
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“A lazy little town where there may be more dogs than people.”
“We felt good being the neighborhood potter.”
As the potters wheel turns, You can smell autumn down the old roads that surround Elk Falls, Kansas.
“We think there is less stress here.
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The sun, too lazy for a high noon, sparkles through leaves worn hard from the Summer heat.
“We’ve been here since 1976, thirty years next year and this is home.”
We are in the potters’ workshop. |
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| “We’ve just enjoyed doing something we loved and doing it together and being able to support ourselves and raise a family with that. What more could we ask?
“If you don’t do anything you shouldn’t be doing, you are great in a small town. Some people think you come to a small town to hide. No! You go to the city to hide. In a small town everybody knows your business and if that bothers you –you better not be here.”
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And in a twist that only comes from deep commitments, these two entrepreneurs are hoping the world doesn't beat a path to their door. One reason is....they might step on the Guinea hens who are trying to get in.
“They are the ugliest things but they have the prettiest feathers. They know they are safe and they don’t run. They come over in the morning – it cracks me up.” |
They have shunned a web site, and have almost no advertising. It's not that they turn down business...but they really don't want more than they can handle. They want to 'live' their life.
“And we know and understand it is not the norm. But I think there are other people to who understand there is more to life than what you make.” |
“Sometimes we almost try to discourage from giving an order because we try to say…this is going to take awhile.”
“We never get too worried about exhibits or trying to make a name for ourselves in our work. We are more happy to make to make things people take home and use. We are happy being potters, not necessarily clay artists. |
“We are definitely more of a ‘homebody’ kind of people.”
“Elk Falls suits us. I don’t know where we would be happier?”
Both Steve and Jane are happy being perfectly happy – at their ‘speed’ of life.
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You may contact Steve and Jane Fry in Elk Falls at
620-329-4424
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