A quirky story about two Midwest farm towns and the value their twine balls represent. Francis Johnson of Minnesota and Fran Storber of Kansas go head-to-head in a 'Battle of the Balls' for over half a century.
Francis Johnson was shaped by the Depression, when law prohibited postal workers from discarding twine on packages. A collector, Francis began saving and wrapping twine from hay bales onto a ball that grew to be 40 feet. Shortly after Francis began, Frank Stoeber, a Kansas farmer, got into the competition. Over the next 26 years their balls grew. Only one of them would emerge as the 'World's Largest Ball Of Twine'. Then, a Texas rancher, with ingenuity and capital, beat out both balls in less than a year, using a machine and plastic twine. For the two rural towns and thousands of visitors, it wasn't just about who 'won'. It was about what the balls came to represent -- values of commitment, community and conservation.—Anonymous
Francis Johnson grew up on a farm during the Depression, a time when law prohibited postal workers from discarding twine wrapped around packages. A born collector, Francis began saving and wrapping twine from hay bales onto a ball that grew to be 40 feet.In 1953, shortly after Francis began rolling, Frank Stoeber, a Kansas farmer got into the competition by rolling his own ball. Over the next 26 years their balls grew, but, only one of them would emerge as the Worlds Largest Ball Of Twine. That is, until a Texas rancher, using American ingenuity and capital, beat out both balls in less than a year, using a machine and plastic twine.For the people of these rural towns, the story doesnt end here. Its not about who won. For them and thousands of visitors, these balls have come to symbolize values of commitment, community and conservation.
