Neven Conrad calls it his labor of love.

The Fort Dodge lawyer has returned to his roots, embracing his newest volunteer venture as a co-caretaker and Teener League director at Patterson Field.

“The atmosphere there brings you back to a simpler time,” Conrad said. “The music, the lemon shake-ups, and the occasional chicken dance … all intertwined with America’s pastime. You cross through the green gates to the field, and life’s worries and cares dissolve.”

“For a couple of hours, each individual in attendance travels back in time to their own nostalgic memories. Life is busier these days, and we need to slow down and take in those moments.”

Art Johnson, the long-time grounds and maintenance supervisor at the iconic south-side complex who also became tournament and Teener League director following Patterson’s death in 2012, retired this past offseason. The 36-year-old Conrad, with the blessing of the Patterson family, the transitional guidance of Johnson and the support of the Fort Dodge Baseball Association, rolled up his sleeves and began working on a new era at the field alongside Mike Archibald.

“We’re just a team of people trying to make it happen this year,” said Conrad, who pointed to Johnson’s patience and advice throughout the process and Archibald “taking the reins and doing a ton of legwork this summer.”

Conrad is no stranger to volunteer work. The 2007 St. Edmond graduate, who also attained degrees from Iowa Central Community College (2008), the University of Northern Iowa (2010) and JD Drake Law School (2013), has worn many hats since his return to Fort Dodge: city council member, UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge board of directors member, Fort Museum and Frontier Village board member, FDBA vice president and tournament director, Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee member, and RAGBRAI — Fort Dodge executive committee member, among other roles.

“I always knew I wanted to come back,” said Conrad, who currently serves as the magistrate for Humboldt County with a law practice near downtown Fort Dodge. “This is the community where I grew up, and it’s always supported me. I recently had an individual I used to coach — who continues to further his education and growth — tell me that a speech I gave to graduating seniors on the impact of returning home and giving back to a community that has given us so much stuck with him through the years and was a motivator in his own personal decisions. It’s that ability to make connections and bring about those impacts that make this place our home.

“Through the varying roles that I have been lucky enough to have throughout the years, what stands out the most about Fort Dodge is the people which make up our community. Whenever there is an individual in need, Fort Dodgers step up for each other. My wife and I are happy to raise our five children here. It’s our hope that, by giving back to this community, we will create an even better Fort Dodge for our children to come home to and hopefully give back to as well.”

Conrad’s role at Patterson Field is a full-circle moment in a multitude of ways. He’s been a player, a coach, and even had a prior stint as the Teener League director in the summer of 2013 following Patterson’s death. Now he’s back and focused on creating opportunities for the next generation of young baseball players from the area.

Conrad learned from local baseball fixtures like Patterson, Johnson, Keith Martin and Keith Hillman. He is currently on the Fort Dodge Amateur Sports board – a group started by Patterson to better organize the intentions and itinerary of the ballpark – with Tom Chalstrom, Rick Pederson and Mike Cormack.

“Looking back on my time in coaching and helping at Patterson Field, it’s a significant undertaking to keep the league running – let alone maintaining the fields,” Conrad said. “(Youth baseball volunteers at Patterson) have devoted countless hours away from their families to provide a fun, free environment for kids to play. They did all of this not for their own benefit, but to ensure that generations of children in and around our community had an opportunity to be kids and play baseball.”

Conrad learned about the value of volunteering and stewardship at an early age.

“The foundation of my desire to get involved stems from my parents and their commitment to their community through service efforts,” Conrad said. “I can remember being involved in the Letter Carrier Food Drives going back to the early 1990s through around 2010.”

The inspiration to give back continued into adulthood, coming from Conrad’s peers and colleagues upon his return to Fort Dodge.

“I have specifically looked (to people like) Terry Moehnke and Nick Pederson. Nick has dedicated his time and energy over the last 13-plus years to further build on the foundation of the Fort Dodge Baseball Association, growing the numbers to nearly 200 children, rebuilding the Bat Cave, and setting up the future long-term successes of both the St Edmond and Senior High baseball programs through his work and dedication with the FDBA.

“Terry is simply a rarity. I always joke that anonymous is synonymous with Terry, because he is involved in so much more than anyone could possibly know. Yet he does all of it without recognition. He shows that you can balance work and life while simultaneously engaging with various organizations in our community to make this town we call home a better place for all of its citizens. Terry already has a legacy of giving and service that our community will reap the benefits of for decades to come.”

Conrad sees a lot of himself in the city he continues to call home. The perseverance and resilience of his community has resonated with him from the start.

“Fort Dodge is tough,” Conrad said. “This was a town on the verge of crumbling in the 1980s. We persevered through economic turmoil and have made conscientious decisions to promote growth and adapt to the rapidly changing dynamics of economics in rural Iowa.

“As a blue-collar town, Fort Dodgers are no strangers to putting in the work, whether a classic work day, working overnights, or even dedicating scarce free time toward volunteer efforts. While many not living here cling to (stereotypes) of Fort Dodge, those still in this community know the character of its citizens, they know the beauty of our art scene, they know the interconnectedness with our extensive trail systems and parks, they know the efforts to promote quality of life initiatives. We know what we are. We know where we have been. We know what we’re capable of – and we’re working to get there.”