Guest Author - Beth Green

If you’re a popcorn-aholic like me, you just might want to visit the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, located in Sac City in western Iowa. Housed in its own building next to the Sac County Museum, this 3,100 pound culinary creation was made in 2004 to help Sac City celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary in 2005.

Located off Interstate 20, Sac City is home to the Noble Popcorn Farms, and popcorn is one of the oldest products in Sac County. So, what better way then to draw attention to their sesquicentennial than by making a popcorn ball? One day in June of 2004, 44 volunteers and 5 employees of the Noble Popcorn Farms gathered to begin the task of creating the world’s largest popcorn ball. After 7 hours and 13 minutes, and using 910 pounds of popcorn, 1500 pounds of sugar, and 690 pounds of syrup; the 7 foot tall, 23 foot wide popcorn ball was completed.

The popcorn ball’s recipe, weight and measurements were certified by county officials, and the information was sent to the Guinness World Record folks in England. Sure enough, the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball had been created, and the Guinness Certificate of Authenticity is on display with the popcorn ball.

Visitors can view the popcorn ball and the certificate through a display window in the building which keeps the popcorn ball out of the elements and away from birds and other small creatures that might want to nibble away at the treat. There’s even a 75 gallon can of Coke outside the building, presumably to help wash down the popcorn.

This popcorn ball is actually the second large popcorn ball that was built in Sac City. The first was made in 1995 and weighed a mere 2,225 pounds. That popcorn ball was blown to bits at a county fair in 1997.

For more information on the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, visit www.noblepopcorn.com .