Why Is There an 8.7-Ton Ball of Sisal Twine in Kansas?

World’s Largest Ball of Twine, Kansas

Frank Stoeber had no idea his neighbors were watching when he started rolling barn twine in 1953.

But word spread fast in small-town Kansas, and soon farmers were bringing their own twine to add to his growing ball.

By 1961, the thing was too big for his barn and became the town’s main attraction. Here’s how one farmer’s project turned into a community obsession that now weighs 8.7 tons and counting.

Christmas Eve Beginnings

On December 24, 1953, Frank Stoeber looked at all the loose twine on his barn floor. Farmers usually burned old baling twine after using it, but this meant sweeping it up and hauling it outside.

Growing up during the Depression taught Frank not to waste anything. Instead of burning the twine, he started rolling it into a ball.

The First Three Years

By 1956, Frank’s twine ball measured seven feet five inches across and weighed 4,035 pounds. The Salina Journal wrote an article about his unusual hobby that year.

Just one year later in 1957, the ball grew even bigger, reaching about 5,000 pounds and standing 8 feet high.

During these early years, all the twine came from Frank’s own farm and the hay bales he fed to his cattle.

Word Gets Out

At first, Frank kept his growing ball hidden in his barn. Even his family didn’t know about it. The ball grew until it was as big as his barn door. Neighbors spotted the massive ball when they visited Frank’s farm. Word spread through Mitchell County about the strange project.

Community Contributions Begin

Soon, nearby farmers started bringing their own used twine to Frank. Friends and neighbors delivered bundles of twine to help the ball grow even bigger.

Frank wrote down the name of every person who contributed twine in a notebook that still exists today.

By the early 1960s, many families in the area saved their twine instead of burning it, proud to be part of the growing local attraction.

Tracking the Growing Ball

Frank kept careful records of how much his twine ball weighed and measured. He regularly checked its size as it grew heavier with each new addition. Once the ball got too big to roll by hand, Frank got creative.

He used chains and a borrowed forklift to hang the ball so he could wrap twine evenly around all sides.

Outgrowing the Barn

After eight years, the twine ball became too big for Frank’s barn. By 1961, it no longer fit through doorways or under the ceiling.

The ball now contained over 1,600,000 feet of twine and measured about 11 feet across. Frank needed to find a new home for his creation, which had grown from a simple farm project into something much bigger.

Donation to Cawker City

The Cawker City business group asked Frank about moving his twine ball to town. In 1961, Frank gave his creation to the community after working on it for eight years.

The town featured the giant ball in their 1961 Centennial Parade celebrating the town’s 100-year history.

A Permanent Home

In 1962, the town built a shelter to protect the twine ball from rain and snow. Workers placed it on a concrete pad next to Highway 24 on Wisconsin Street in Cawker City. This spot made it easy for travelers to see the ball while passing through town.

The ball has stayed in this same location ever since, though the shelter has been rebuilt several times as the ball kept growing.

Frank Never Stopped Working on the Ball

Even after giving the ball to the town, Frank kept adding to it. He often came to the site to wrap new twine and check on his creation. Locals remember seeing Frank in town working on the ball until his health declined.

He stayed involved with the project until his death in 1974. By then, the ball contained about 1.6 million feet of twine and had become a major tourist stop.

Official Recognition

In 1973, the Guinness Book of World Records named Frank’s creation the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. This official honor came just one year before Frank died, so he got to enjoy the international recognition.

Visiting the World’s Largest Ball of Twine

You’ll find the World’s Largest Ball of Twine at 719 Wisconsin Street (Highway 24) in Cawker City, Kansas.

As of March 2025, the ball measures 40 feet in circumference, weighs over 17,400 pounds, and contains more than 8 million feet of twine.

While visiting, follow the painted twine path along Main Street to see local storefront art incorporating twine balls in famous paintings. For souvenirs, ask about the gift shop options in town.

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