YDF Grant Encourages Greater Civic Engagement by Local Youth

April 7, 2025

On April 7th, the RCF Youth Development Fund awarded a grant to the Milton High School civics class.  The grant assisted with the cost of transporting high school students to the WI State Capitol where they were able to learn more about their Capitol and state government; as well as, hear directly from state legislators explain the importance of civic engagement.

In the grant approval letter, the RCF board included the following:
“The objective of the RCF Youth Development Fund is to encourage and help facilitate Rock County students to actively engage in American citizenship by focusing on local civics. We achieve this objective by working and collaborating with student councils and/or Social Studies/Government education classes in K-12 schools across Rock County; along with local business leaders and local elected officials.
We believe the trip to the State Capitol is a great way to introduce our local youth to our form of representative government, and therefore we are providing our enthusiastic support of this field trip. We look forward to working with you in the future to bring in local elected officials to speak with students and introduce them to opportunities to get involved in local governance.”
The RCF Development Fund would like to recognize Jeremy Bilhorn, Principal, Milton High School, and his staff, for their leadership in educating local youth on the importance of civic engagement.
Please go HERE to learn more about the RCF Youth Development Fund and its mission.

Other Articles From Our Blog

FINAL REPORT: Rock Co. School Districts – Updated with Cost per Student

FINAL REPORT: Rock Co. School Districts – Updated with Cost per Student

August 20, 2025
WHY DOES THE DPI SCORING MATTER? Like any successful business or individual, there needs to be some method to measure & compare performance and progress over time. The WI Department of Public Instruction (DPI) provides the only method for parents and citizens to track the performance and progress of their school district over time, as compared to other school districts. The DPI Scorecard is not a perfect tool to accomplish this objective, but it is the best available method today. Since parents and taxpayers deserve to have this accountability, and since DPI believes this program is not effective to measure and compare performance and progress, then it is incumbent on DPI to develop and provide a better assessment program and to make it consistent from one year to the next.
Read More
Community-based Solutions Promote Freedom

Community-based Solutions Promote Freedom

August 20, 2025
In federal and state legislative sessions and local town council meetings there is a common selling point for any new spending. New taxes and regulations are often sold as tools to “improve society,” “protect consumers,” or “level the playing field.” But beneath the glossy rhetoric lies a deeper, more troubling reality: each new mandate chips away at personal liberty, shrinks individual responsibility, and consolidates power in the hands of bureaucracies. The truth is simple but unpopular—freedom and government control are inversely related. Taxation is the most direct way governments reduce individual freedom. Every dollar a governmental body takes is a dollar we can’t spend, save, or invest in accordance with our own values and judgment. We are compelled to trust the “administration” to manage our future better than we can ourselves.
Read More
Are you ready to lead, locally?

Are you ready to lead, locally?

August 5, 2025
Rock County First can help you prepare...and WIN! RCF is recruiting motivated, liberty-minded individuals to run for the county board, school boards and city/town boards next Spring. RCF has a track record of helping candidates prepare, and win!
Read More