The 2nd Annual HALF CALF Benefit Bike Ride brought to you by the Vista Ridge FFA Alumni invites you to join their upcoming ride happening on November 12, 2011 at 200 South Vista Ridge Blvd. Cedar Park, Texas
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with John Steczkowski, lead Organizer of HALF CALF Benefit Bike Ride to ask some questions about their upcoming ride.
Why Join this year’s ride?
It’s a great ride through the hill country, through beautiful ranch land. It’s a fully supported ride that benefits a great cause.
How long has the event been around and how did it start?
The event started about 4 years ago. The idea was to do more than a fundraiser and just ask for money, but provide a real service that people were willing to pay for.
What was the motivation behind starting the tour and who benefits from it?
See above. The Vista Ridge High School FFA Alumni Association raises money to provides scholarships for FFA students and help that student organization with expenses that the school does not provide for.
How have they been able to utilize the funds in the past?
The main use is for scholarships. But the alumni association has also provided funds so the students can attend the state FFA convention and we have also provided funds to the kids that show their animals at the county livestock shows.
Logistically, can you give us an idea how many volunteers, finances, and planning it takes to put on this event?
The planning takes about 6 months for a team of 8 to put together, but then requires about 30 volunteers for the day of the event.
What was the most rewarding experience throughout the years hosting this event?
Just being able to reward some kids that work really hard on their FFA livestock projects.
How many riders do you assist during the average race?
We typically have about 225 riders.
What was the most unforgettable experience or worst accident you had in this event? (prefer the rewarding/unforgettable experience ;o))
The most unforgettable experience was the time we had 35 mph headwinds on the return leg of the route. We had a lot of folks that we had to give a ride back to the finish that day.
What can folks do to support you and your mission?
The better the turn-out for the event, the more we can help the FFA students at Vista Ridge.
What is your role in this race and to the success of it?
This year I am leading the organization of the event.
Do you ride and if yes, what kind of bicycle do you ride and what is your favorite route in your area?
I have a Trek MTB and a Jamis road bike. The ride out to Andice and the Williamson County Regional trail are 2 of my favorite rides.
Additional stuff you would like the folks to know about this year’s ride?
It’s a great ride with some good food at the end, and the money goes to a good cause…
Thanks John Steczkowski for this quick interview and we hope to catch everyone at the ride!
Click here to view the event details of the 2nd Annual HALF CALF Benefit Bike Ride
