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There is something pretty incredible about seeing the baseball world descend on a small Iowa town of just several thousand residents. Today, the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will take the field in Dyersville for the return of the MLB at Field of Dreams.
For baseball fans, it's a chance to experience one of the most iconic places in the history of the game.
For rural Iowa, the impact goes well beyond baseball.
Visitors coming to town will stay in nearby hotels, grab meals at a local restaurant, shop at small businesses, and experience Iowa hospitality firsthand.
This week's events are projected to generate at least $40 million in economic activity, supporting businesses and workers in Dyersville and communities across the region.
But what I love most about the Field of Dreams is that it gives millions of people a glimpse into our home and what makes rural Iowa special.
They'll see a small town capable of hosting one of the biggest events in sports. They'll see local business owners working overtime to welcome visitors. They'll see volunteers pitching in and Iowa hospitality on full display.
I'm proud to see Dyersville in the national spotlight and excited for people across the country to see what rural Iowa has to offer, both on and off the field.
The Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce represents nearly 300 businesses and organizations. Events like this bring thousands of visitors to the area, supporting the local restaurants, shops, hotels, and other small businesses that make up the community.
And the impact doesn't necessarily end when the game does. Visitors who come for baseball may discover a place they want to visit again.
Maybe they traveled to Dyersville because they grew up watching Field of Dreams with their dad. Maybe they came because their child is playing little league. Or maybe they just wanted to experience a piece of America they've only seen on television.
Whatever brings them here, we have the opportunity to show them what makes Iowa worth returning to.
It's about showcasing small-town America on one of sports' biggest stages. And it's about a game that still has the power to bring parents, kids, grandparents, and complete strangers together from every corner of the country right here in rural Iowa.
Millions of people will tune in to see the Field of Dreams.
And I think they'll come away seeing something even better: Iowa.
Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, represents Iowa’s Second District in the U.S. House and is her party’s nominee for a seat in the U.S. Senate.