Dear Editor,

Twelve farm families, countless artists and musicians, over 30 vendors of delicious food and drink, 80 volunteers, and one well-placed sprinkler combined to give 3,000 riders a day to remember in Pemberton. There were even helicopter rides to the slide. The Slow Food Cycle Sunday Ride to the Slide.

As organizers, we are so grateful to so many people whose contribution, large or small, ensured the success of the event. Many of them you might have seen at the event in their red volunteer shirts (thanks to Race and Co.) working away. Pemberton Search and Rescue were there for you the whole time along the entire route. “Moldy” and The Arts Council provided much of the eye candy. Lisa Sumire Komoru created the logo and the map. Mark Blundell and the 4H club helped hydrate the masses. Our friends and family, as always, have provided essential support at critical times.

We want to point out that the Village of Pemberton played a key role this year in supporting the registration area in its new location in town. With these kinds of numbers, we need some heavy-hitting logistical support, which came in the form of Jill Brooksbank, Russell Mack, Daniel Sailland and the VOP, on the urging of Mayor Sturdy.

The Pemberton Chamber produced a sparkling Saturday night, and the Rotary and Friends of the Library produced a perfect ending at the Pioneer Park AugustFest.

We are looking forward to next year, on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2011. Same time and place.

And now we say good-bye to the glamorous event-management lifestyle and return to being a farmer and a computer systems analyst.

Thank you for supporting farmland, biking, and spending your money in the Meadows on Sunday.

Anna Helmer

and Niki Vankerk

Pemberton