Kansas Ball Of Twine Still Growing

Kansas Ball Of Twine Still Growing AG WORLD 28-4-22 Do you know what the difference is between the big ball of twine in Minnesota and the big ball of twine in Kansas? The Minnesota twine ball in Darwin was started and finished by one man. The Kansas ball, on the other hand, is a community effort that's ongoing. In fact, if you can get to Cawker City, Kan., you can add a piece of twine to the ever-growing ball yourself. Linda Clover, caretaker, says the Kansas ball of string was started in Dec. 1953 by Frank Stoeber as a way to get rid of piles of twine on his farm. As the ball grew, neighbors would bring him their twine. It finally got so big he took it to town. The small town adopted the ball of twine and built a shelter over it so visitors can touch it any time. They found out how much the ball weighed when a crane lifted it into place in 1988. Since then, they weigh the twine as added. Right now, Clover says it weighs approximately 17,670 lbs. and has 7,049,191 ft. of twine on it. "We just have fun with it," she says. People come from all over to see it and sign a book. While some come specifically to see the ball of twine, others happen to be just driving by and can't believe it," Clover says. A local artist painted twine like it was unraveling all along the sidewalk and visitors walk along, following the strands of twine to works of art in storefronts. Then they try to find the ball of twine in each painting, says Clover. "We just try to entertain people," she says. "We like to say we're unique. Some people say odd." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Linda Clover, Cawker City Community Club, P.O. Box 178, Cawker City, Kan. 67430 (ph 785 781-4713 or 785 781-4723 after business hours; email: twinetown@nckcn.com).

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