(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
Rural Route 2: Wrigleyville Wisdom
September 1, 2026 | Bethany Baratta
From our seats in Section 228, the view offered a perfect panoramic of the historic field. To our left, second base. To our right, the legendary, ivy-laced home run wall. Directly in front of us, outfielders stretched across the manicured grass fields.
In late July, my son and I finally made good on a Christmas gift to my mother-in-law. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, she had somehow never seen a game at Wrigley Field — and neither had my son. We were determined to change that. Months ago, we circled the date on our calendar, deliberately choosing the matchup that commemorated the iconic 2016 World Series championship team.
On game day, we walked from the shuttle stop toward the stadium with our homemade signs in tow, dipping in and out of shops and awnings to dodge a passing summer downpour. And then, right on cue, the rain stopped, the sun broke through and the breeze brought in from Lake Michigan picked up.
Built in 1914, the “Friendly Confines” offers an experience unlike any other in sports. Its ivy-covered brick, the iconic hand-turned scoreboard and a vibrant energy that spills out into the surrounding neighborhood make it feel timeless. Seeing the beaming smiles on Luca’s and Grandma’s faces the exact moment they first caught sight of that vibrant green field gave me immediate chills. We had made it, and we were about to build some core memories.
The day delivered everything we hoped for: eating fresh corn dogs, high-fiving strangers after home runs and watching Ian Happ make a spectacular diving catch in the 4th. There was even a bit of baseball magic when former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo caught a home run ball right from the bleachers. By the time the final out secured a six-two victory over the Minnesota Twins, we were singing “Go Cubs Go” at the top of our lungs alongside 39,500 other fans.
It is easy to get trapped in the echo chamber of our daily routines. From my office in the city, the summer flies by in a blur of page layouts, editorial deadlines and screen time. Out in your neck of the woods, your summer has been dictated by commodity markets, weather apps and the preparation for another harvest sprint.
The settings are entirely different, but the pitfall is the same: We get so consumed by the immediate work in front of us that we forget to circle dates on the calendar for the people who matter most.
Stepping away for a weekend didn’t change the looming deadlines waiting on my desk, just like a break won’t change the work waiting in your machine sheds. But as you head into the demanding weeks of harvest, I hope you find a moment to step back, make core memories and enjoy the view before the wheels start turning.
Written by Bethany Baratta.
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