Sac County, Iowa - Home of the World's Largest Popcorn Ball -  The two-time Guinness World Record holders are determined to continue to hold the record for the World's Largest Popcorn Ball.  There are rumors that their 3,100 pound record, set in 2004, has been beaten to the tune of 3,423 pounds by a company in Illinois.

This can't happen-we, here in Iowa,  the originators of the sticky masses -  must continue to hold the record, so plans are heating up to build our "third" World's Largest Popcorn Ball on Feb. 28, 2009.

Our first popcorn ball, weighing in at 2,225 pounds met its demise two years after its creation in April of 1995.  As an attraction at the county fair in August of 1997, the ball was loaded with 7 sticks of dynamite to blow it to a "rain of popcorn."  The stands were filled to overflowing and the national media was on hand.  Alas, 7 sticks of dynamite were no match for the sticky mass as it broke apart in several pieces instead of raining popcorn.

Our record was challenged in September of 1995 and beat by the Boy Scouts so in June of 2004, we set about making our second World's Largest Popcorn Ball.  Seven hours and 13 minutes later, we had created a 3,100 pound ball that remains intact today.

Thousands of visitors stop each month on Hwy. 20 in the heart of Sac City to register and photograph themselves with the second huge mass.  (In fact we've even had wedding photos taken by the Popcorn Ball.)  Not a day goes by that you don't see folks stopping by the little red barn near the Sac City Museum-right on Main Street in Sac City-to marvel at the giant record holder.

And then we received the news - our record had been beaten again.  Never one to back down from a challenge, plans were soon hatched to create another record holder - only this time it was going to be really BIG.   That's right-these fun loving Sac County folks will be "getting sticky" again.   Our goal is to build a 5,000 pound popcorn ball - large enough that no one will "dare to challenge" the record again.  This takes a lot of popcorn, syrup & sugar and lots of volunteers.

So the date is set-Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, the location will be at the Noble Popcorn plant (in their new addition) in Sac City, Iowa.  We'll be starting about 8 a.m. in the morning and packing, punching, molding and shaping another large mass to submit to Guinness for one more record holder.

Join us as we celebrate the growth of popcorn in the heartland.    Popcorn was introduced to our county in 1885.  Growing conditions for popcorn in Sac County were found to be ideal and we quickly gained the reputation as the "Pop Corn Capital of the World."

Popcorn is such a healthy snack that we delight in being able to offer it internationally to everyone.