Who’s Getting the Funds

The beneficiaries include a range of civic, youth, health, and community-service groups that helped support RAGBRAI by volunteering, providing services, or supplying equipment - often at no cost to the event.

These groups were selected as a thank-you for their direct contributions to the overnight stop - from volunteering to logistics support to donating equipment.

The recipients are:

• Dickinson County EMS Association

• Milford Commercial Club

• Campus Women’s Club (Milford)

• Local FFA chapter

• Peterson Lions Club

• Milford Boy Scouts

• Clay County Fair

• Little Sioux Orchard

• Making Waves for Children Project

• The city of Milford - specifically for a park-improvement project at Buchanan Park.

According to the press release, eight of the ten recipients offered services, volunteers or equipment for RAGBRAI free of charge - which helped keep event costs down and maximize the amount available for community support.

Community Gets More Than a One-Night Boost

More than just a financial payoff, the distribution reflects how RAGBRAI continues to deliver a boost to host towns - not just from cyclists riding through, but via durable support for local institutions.

Volunteer Appreciation Event Announced

To celebrate the hard work behind the scenes, the committee will host a Volunteer Appreciation Event:

• Sunday, December 14, 2025
• 5:00–7:00 PM
• Milford Community Center

Anyone who helped with Milford’s overnight stop - in any capacity - is invited.

Why These Funds Matter (And Why Registration Matters Even More)

Stories like Milford’s highlight something many riders don’t always see:
RAGBRAI is powered by real community effort - and real community cost.

BIKEIOWA recently published an in-depth Feature,
“Behind the Wristband – The True Cost of RAGBRAI”

Both pieces lay out exactly how much it costs towns like Milford to host the ride - the coordination, infrastructure, public safety, sanitation, staging, entertainment, volunteer hours, and financial risk involved.

When riders register, they contribute to:

• Host town reimbursements

• Public safety staffing

• Road closures + signage

• Portable sanitation

• Trash + cleanup

• Grants and donations to local groups (like the 10 listed above)

• The future sustainability of the ride

When riders don’t register, host towns get hurt.

Milford’s $45,000 give-back is a perfect example of what’s possible when the system works- when riders register, towns receive support, and communities benefit long after RAGBRAI rolls through.

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REGISTER for RAGBRAI LIII today - Only $230 for the week until Jan 1st 2026!