In July 2007, eleven delegates from the city of Laurens, France, arrived at the Des Moines International Airport marking the start of an eight-day visit to to the state centered around their new sister city, the Pocahontas County town of Laurens. The delegation participated in Laurens’ 125th Anniversary weekend and festivities during RAGBRAI’s ride through the community. The sister city alliance was made official during their visit, some six years after the Mayor of Laurens, France, first communicated with his Iowa counterpart, inquiring about the community after seeing it featured in “The Straight Story” film.