RAGBRAI’s big honeymoon farm party

Tue, Jul 26, 2011 | by Kyle Munson

Lance Armstrong missed one of Tuesday’s biggest RAGBRAI parties at Shane and Alisa Olson’s five-acre farmstead east of Churdan. The couple — he’s 37, she’s 28 — got married Saturday and decided to share their honeymoon with 10,000 bicyclists. (Don’t take that the wrong way.)

So Tuesday’s barnyard bash with Mr. Pork Chop, fruit pies, a beer garden and a giant swing into the farm pond was a tad larger than the guest list of 250 or so for the wedding itself at a park shelter on the shores of Saylorville.

So who had to convince whom to stage this during such a blissful week for the couple?

“You should know the answer to that one,” Shane deadpanned.

“I planned a wedding, and he planned the RAGBRAI,” Alisa clarified, “and they both worked out pretty well.”

Shane said he heard that Tour de France champ Armstrong, riding Tuesday on his third RAGBRAI and first since 2008, had blown past the farm without stopping.

The Olson newlyweds met about five years ago at a St. Patrick’s Day party in Lohrville — so I guess they’ve had a festive relationship thus far. Shane is a fireman stationed at Des Moines International Airport as well as a firefighter in the Air National Guard. Alisa is a teacher.

Their RAGBRAI party was prompted by Mr. Pork Chop (Paul Bernhard of Bancroft), whose son, Matt, pulled up in his car earlier this year to scope out the farm. The couple had been planting trees, and after a while Alisa wondered where her finance had disappeared.

It already was too late: Shane and Matt had hatched their plans over beers in the barn.

2011 RAGBRAI, Churdan, day three, Greene County

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7 Responses on “RAGBRAI’s big honeymoon farm party”

ozomaha

July 26, 2011 at 8:55 pm

Alisa and Shane have STYLE!

mcollis

July 27, 2011 at 8:53 am

Team Ironhorse had a GREAT time at your awesome party!

Alisa

July 27, 2011 at 12:20 pm

It was actually Mr. Porkchop’s son Matt who scoped out the place, but we did have the honor of meeting the famous Mr. Porkchop, Paul!

Kyle Munson

July 27, 2011 at 1:31 pm

Thanks for the update, Alisa — I’ll switch the reference in the post to Matt.

Pam Hildreth

July 30, 2011 at 9:11 am

Alisa’s Aunty Pam here!! We stopped and cooled off on their porch and took in the sights and sounds for about a half an hour! My husband, Gary, and my son, Conner, and myself, each had a porkchop and decided it was the best we had ever had!! Gave us enough protein to get us to Boone!! Shane and Alisa ROCK!! It was the best stop all day!!

Jim

August 4, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Congrats again to Alisa and Shane! What a party that was. I really had fun playing the banjo for those pond swingers out there!
-Jim

Roadside Mysteries » Blog Archive » Obligatory Photos

August 4, 2011 at 3:42 pm

[...] you know? And the Olson’s party was a big hit with many of the riders as the official Ragbrai blog declares. Posted in Anything Ragbrai Bike Ride Across [...]