JFK – that’s James Frank Kotera, not John F. Kennedy – turned 70 on Groundhog Day, 2017. JFK is the creator and solitary roller of what may be the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. He’s been wrapping it for almost 38 years.
We called to wish JFK a happy birthday, and to ask how the twine ball was coming along. He said that he still adds to it every day, but not yet on his birthday because it was 12 degrees below zero outside (He and his outdoor twine ball are in northern Wisconsin). JFK asked if we were stopping by (he enjoys visitors), and we said we’d probably wait until it was a little warmer.
JFK told us that his twine ball currently weighs 22,425 pounds. We then checked with Linda Clover, caretaker of the “World’s Largest Ball of Twine” in Cawker City, Kansas, and learned that its current weight is 20,230 pounds. Both weights are best guesses since neither ball sits on a scale, but clearly this is a Golden Age of Giant Twine Balls with two active ten-ton behemoths vying for size supremacy.
JFK said that he had to run to get to his job at the town dump, but planned to add to his twine ball later in the afternoon. “When it warms up,” he said. “It keeps me young.”
From US-2 in Brule turn south (no stoplight) onto WI-27. Follow WI-27 south 10 miles. Turn right, west (no stoplight) onto County Rd S. Follow County Rd S for four miles. The twine ball will be on the right. Pull into the transfer station, just before Highland Town Hall.
February 2nd, 2017 at 11:13 pm
Happy Birthday, JFK! You were a highlight of our Twine Ball Tour a few years ago!
February 5th, 2017 at 4:22 am
Having been to ALL four balls of twines, JFK is impressive. They all are. Happy Birthday JFK. Hope to visit you again!