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Tampa visitors immersed in rural life

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Two women from the Tampa, Fla., area visited Tampa this weekend and had a very rural Kansas experience: They got stuck in the mud.

With that inauspicious beginning, which they accepted with good humor, they learned a lot about rural Kansas.

Karin Lovik of Clearwater, Fla., won the trip to Tampa by winning a slogan contest sponsored by a radio station.

"From the gulf to the bay, there's no better place to play," was the winning slogan.

Because the prize was for two and Lovik is single, she invited her friend, Leah Patterson, to accompany her.

They flew to Wichita Friday, where they rented a car. The Florida station had given them directions to the farm of Gerald and Jeanne Rziha, where they were to spend the night.

Obviously, the map maker didn't know about the haphazard system of roads in rural Kansas. The map directed them north from 290th on Kanza Road, a dirt road.

They didn't get far before they were helplessly bogged down in the mud.

"I thought I'd get out and push or walk to the nearest farm house, but when I opened the car door and saw how deep the mud was, I gave up," Lovik said.

They called the Rzihas on a cell phone, and Gerald came with his bulldozer and pulled them out.

They arrived at Centre's homecoming game a little late but enjoyed visiting with the spectators. They were introduced to the crowd during halftime of the boys' varsity game.

On Saturday, the Rzihas, Jim and Carole Spohn, and Tom and Dee Duggan accompanied the women to various places of interest.

They visited Mueller's Dairy, watched Kelly Novak feed cattle, and observed cows and baby calves at Scott David's farm.

Together with more than 50 people, they ate lunch at Butch's Diner. (Maggie and Marvin Meisinger opened especially for them). They also visited Agri-Producers, Inc. elevator, Tampa State Bank, and Cardie Oil.

Ed and Mary Costello presented the women with autographed copies of the Tampa history book.

They also toured the Lutheran and Catholic churches and fire and ambulance departments.

They were taken to observe swales on the Santa Fe Trail, and Virginia Bentz presented a history of the trail. Frieda Bentz shared her collection of quilts at the Bentz farm.

Approximately 70-80 people hosted a potluck dinner for the women at Tampa Senior Center. Fifth and sixth grade students from Centre Elementary School sang songs relating to life in Kansas and displayed Kansas posters.

The women returned home Sunday. Lovik said she lived most of her life in a farming community in Pennsylvania, so she was somewhat familiar with rural life. She works at Clearwater Christian College in student services. Patterson also works there in the library.

Carole Spohn said the two women were ideal candidates for a trip to Tampa and rural Kansas.

"They had a natural curiosity and enthusiasm and weren't bothered by the mud and mess," she said.

As they were leaving, they told their hosts that whenever they eat a hamburger, they will remember their trip to Kansas and have a greater appreciation for the work farmers do.

"This weekend, we educated someone," Carole said. "And they'll go back and share what they learned."

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