A resident since 1991, Hanson knew of the Pederson legacy before she even moved to Badger, and decades before their name came to be a more literal fixture in the community through a sign unveiled this week to accompany new infield renovations this year.

That legacy has been a hit to the community with every passing season, where an estimated 15 to 20 games are played per summer, with another 60 nights worth of practices.

In Hanson’s case, it was at one point a literal hit, when one of the “Badger Boys” hit a ball so hard it went through the batting practice net, hitting her in the head.

“My teeth hurt for so long after that,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Badger Ball Park field is now named Pederson Field in honor of the family’s dedication to the field through the decades. The city unveiled the new sign in a ceremony Monday.

Now, she gladly grins, baring those teeth to talk about the Pederson family and its impact on Badger.

The Badger Ball Park and Pederson Field now recognizes the sweat, dirt, blood and tears that three generations of Pedersons have put into a community of 600 that is more than a place to live.

“This is our home,” said Rick Pederson, recognized Monday for his and his family’s investment over decades. “This is the place that we take a lot of pride in. It’s a place that means something to us.”

All that is perhaps a cogent prelude to Pederson’s personal definition of Badger: “It’s more than where we live.”

And this week, residents watched the culmination of the city’s in-kind response.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Rick Pederson raised about $2,700 to help make the new infield improvements possible in Badger’s ball field.

They have played on the field for generations, said Mayor Pro Tempore Roger Curtis, and the city recognizes their contributions and support. City Council passed the resolution to rename the field on July 8.

He told The Messenger that the improvements are more than a superficial neighborhood improvement, saying that the Pederson legacy means continuing the memories in the community with a beautiful park.

What started out as a few truckloads of weeds pulled from the field as Rick Pederson took over maintenance turned in to about $2,700 in fundraising to completely redo the infield.

“Basically, we just started over with the infield part of things,” he said, raising the money from a community that stepped up without hesitation. “Nobody told me no, and I didn’t even go to everybody. That’s the neat part.”

But what he finds neater is that the next few generations of Pedersons and Badger kids will be able to have the same simple joy of unorganized play that he and his brothers had.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Long-time Badger resident Carol Hanson leads the Monday ceremony naming the ball field after the Pederson family.

“Kids don’t do that anymore,” as much, said the seasoned local and Iowa Central coach. “It’s important to just have a place to be able to be outside and do what they want to do.”

Now, the Pederson Field is the modern equivalent to the sandlot he had back by the school as a kid.

“Part of me wants to make sure that kids of this community have their sandlot,” he said.

“It’s just baseball,” Hanson said, standing behind the aluminum bleachers — just below eye level for her — looking at the field as the sun started to set. “But (my kids) lived here.”

Though it was a simple statement, her demeanor demonstrated that baseball was indeed much more than a sport to Badger kids like her’s.

-Messenger photo by Elijah Decious
Roger Curtis, mayor pro tempore of Badger, recognizes the Pederson family for their contribution to the community.

“The camaraderie here is just amazing,” the Fort Dodge native said, expressing her love for the small town where volunteerism like the Pedersons, often witnessed in decline in other cities and small towns alike, remains alive in the dozen or two city blocks within Badger limits.

The original “Deer Creek/Badger Township ball field,” located in the northwest corner of Third Avenue, relocated in 1975 to its current location at Third Avenue Southeast, Lights were installed in 1976. In the early ’90s, discussions circulated to demolish the ball park to build homes.

“Getting some dirt and bases wasn’t nearly the task they had,” Pederson said of past generations who built the field, raised the lights and defended the park from destruction.

But thanks to them, and Rick Pederson’s brothers — Scott, Philip and Chad — everyone can celebrate hitting homeruns at home.