At RotoKAP, being part of the Wisconsin community means more than simply doing business here. It means supporting the people and organizations working to make our communities stronger.
That’s why RotoKAP and Horizon Manufacturing Group are proud to support Bike Forward WI and its 2026 fundraising efforts benefiting Rooted, a Madison-based nonprofit working to connect people with land, food and one another.
Turning a Bike Ride Into Something Bigger
Bike Forward WI began with a simple idea: get on a bike and ride.
What started in 2014 as a two-day father-and-son ride from Madison to La Crosse gradually grew as friends, family members and coworkers joined in. By the third year, the riders were using the event to help a local family going through a difficult time.
That experience helped transform an annual ride into something much bigger.
Bike Forward officially became a nonprofit organization in 2021, with a mission “to demonstrate selfless action through shared experiences and acts of goodwill.” Today, the volunteer-run organization combines cycling, friendship and fundraising to support causes throughout Wisconsin.
During its first seven years, Bike Forward reports distributing $100,000 to organizations and causes in Wisconsin. Previous beneficiaries have included programs supporting veterans, youth, individuals with disabilities, conservation efforts and families affected by cancer.
For 2026, Bike Forward has set its sights on raising another $25,000.
Riding for Rooted in 2026
This year’s Bike Forward beneficiary is Rooted, a Madison nonprofit focused on urban agriculture, youth education, community gardening and increasing access to fresh, healthy food.
Through its Farm to School work, Rooted brings food and farming education directly to students. Its Gardener-in-Residence program places garden educators in Madison schools, where students get hands-on opportunities to grow, harvest, cook and taste fresh produce.
The organization’s reach goes well beyond the classroom. Rooted currently supports 70 community gardens across Dane County serving approximately 2,000 families and provides garden-based education to more than 7,000 students each year.
Funding is particularly important for Rooted’s school garden programs. The organization works to keep its Gardener-in-Residence program affordable for schools and provides additional subsidies for schools with greater economic need. Community fundraising helps close the gap between what it costs to provide this programming and what participating schools are able to pay.
For Bike Forward riders, that means every mile traveled in 2026 is helping support opportunities for Wisconsin kids to get outside, put their hands in the dirt, learn where their food comes from and discover the value of growing and eating fresh food.
RotoKAP Is Proud to Be Along for the Ride
RotoKAP and Horizon Manufacturing Group are proud to be among the community sponsors helping Bike Forward continue its mission in 2026.
You’ll even see the RotoKAP name traveling with the riders this year, with the RotoKAP logo featured on the sleeves of their cycling jerseys.
For our team in Lake Mills, supporting an organization like Bike Forward is a natural extension of our commitment to Wisconsin and the communities where we live and work. Horizon Manufacturing Group is a family-owned Wisconsin manufacturer, and RotoKAP products are designed and manufactured right here in Lake Mills.
We’re proud of what we build, but we’re equally proud to support people who are building stronger communities.
Bike Forward demonstrates what can happen when something as simple as a group of people sharing a bike ride becomes an opportunity to help others. Their story is a reminder that making a difference doesn’t always have to start with something big. Sometimes it starts with doing what you enjoy, inviting a few people along and finding a way to turn that shared experience into something meaningful.
Celebrating the Partnership in Lake Mills
We recently had the opportunity to welcome Bike Forward riders to Horizon Manufacturing Group in Lake Mills for a check presentation and photo opportunity.
Seeing the riders in their jerseys with the RotoKAP and Horizon logos gave our team a chance to celebrate the partnership and, more importantly, recognize the work Bike Forward and Rooted are doing throughout Wisconsin.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to play a part in this year’s effort and proud to help Bike Forward keep moving forward.
Want to learn more or support the ride?
Visit Bike Forward WI to learn about its mission, 2026 fundraising efforts and ways to contribute.
And from everyone at RotoKAP and Horizon Manufacturing Group: ride safe, keep moving forward and thank you for making every mile count.
