Supporting Lake Mills students, honoring a beloved educator, and helping create new opportunities for outdoor learning.
At RotoKAP’s parent company, Horizon Manufacturing Group, we’re proud to call Lake Mills, Wisconsin our home. Supporting the community where our employees live, work, and raise their families is an important part of who we are. That’s why we were honored to serve as a Silver Sponsor of the 2026 L-Cat Fun Run, benefiting students at Lake Mills Elementary School and an exciting new community project, the Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center.
The annual L-Cat Fun Run encourages students to get moving, have fun, and work together toward a common goal. This year’s event carried an especially meaningful purpose: helping create an outdoor learning environment that will benefit students for years to come.
A Special Project Honoring a Beloved Teacher
The Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center is being developed in memory of Jenni Nichols, a beloved Lake Mills Elementary School teacher who passed away in 2025.
The project will transform the school’s existing garden into an expanded, hands-on outdoor learning space where students can explore nature, develop new skills, and connect classroom lessons with real-world experiences.
The first phase of development includes plans for:
- Expanded garden beds for planting and growing
- Dedicated outdoor learning areas
- Rain barrels to support water conservation
- A wash station for garden activities
- Picnic tables and a central gathering space
- Compost bins to teach sustainable practices
- Storage for gardening tools and educational materials
Together, these improvements will create opportunities for students to learn about gardening, sustainability, science, and the natural environment in an engaging, hands-on setting.
More importantly, the learning center will serve as a lasting tribute to an educator who made a difference in the lives of Lake Mills students and families.
A Successful Community Fundraising Effort
The fifth annual L-Cat Fun Run demonstrated what can happen when students, families, local businesses, and community members come together for a shared purpose.
According to the Lake Mills Elementary School PTO, this year’s event raised approximately $26,000!
Of that total, approximately $16,000 will support school staff, students, and family events throughout the year. The remaining $10,000 in business sponsorships will directly support the development of the Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center.
Horizon Manufacturing Group is proud to have contributed to this effort as a Silver Sponsor, helping turn an important community vision into reality.
Investing in the Next Generation
As a local manufacturer, Horizon understands the value of hands-on learning, curiosity, and problem-solving. These are skills that begin developing at an early age and continue to shape future opportunities.
Outdoor educational spaces like the Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center give students opportunities to ask questions, explore new ideas, work together, and learn through experience.
Whether they’re planting seeds, learning about composting, observing the natural world, or discovering how everyday systems work, students can build skills and confidence that extend far beyond the classroom.
Supporting projects like this is one way Horizon can help invest in the next generation while strengthening the community we are proud to be part of.
Proud to Be Part of the Lake Mills Community
Horizon Manufacturing Group extends a sincere congratulations to the Lake Mills Elementary School PTO, school staff, families, volunteers, and everyone who helped make this year’s L-Cat Fun Run a success.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to support a project that celebrates the legacy of Jenni Nichols while creating something meaningful for future generations of students.
We look forward to seeing the Jenni Nichols Outdoor Learning Center take shape and the many ways it will enrich learning experiences in Lake Mills.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making the 2026 L-Cat Fun Run such a success!
Learn more about the event and the school’s fundraising efforts through the Lake Mills Elementary School PTO.
