Mammoth PBJ shoots for record
Two state commodity groups plan to establish a new world record for a Goliath-size sandwich Sept. 7 during Septemberfest.
While the mammoth size of the gigantic size peanut butter and jelly sandwich hopefully will stand the test of time in the Guinness Book of World Records, the hefty behemoth should be reduced to crumbs and splatters before the day is done.
Those attending Septemberfest, which will be held on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City, will get to sample the giant sandwich when it will be served up after being certified as the world’s largest. Several agriculture organizations, including Oklahoma Farm Bureau, participate annually in the event.
"The idea came from an Oklahoma Peanut Commission meeting when we were brainstorming on how to promote peanut use," said Mike Kubicek, executive director of the organization. "We contacted the wheat folks and invited them to join us." "The number one sandwich in America is the creamy peanut butter and concord grape," he added, promising that it also soon will be the biggest.
The current Guinness world record holder is a 7 feet by 7 feet tuna sandwich, exhibited at the Total Sandwich Show in London in May 1999. The Oklahoma PBJ will be 8 feet by 8 feet and weigh in somewhere between 700 and 800 pounds.
Two family-owned Oklahoma businesses, Shawnee Milling Co. and Clements Foods, are donating the state-produced ingredients for the record PBJ. Shawnee Milling will donate the flour made from Oklahoma wheat needed to make the bread and Clements will donate the creamy peanut butter made from Oklahoma peanuts. Clements also will donate the grape jelly.
El Reno Mainstreet will provide the custom made oven that is used for its annual Burger Day Festival, and members of the El Reno Fire Department will bake the huge piece of bread on site.
Once the bread is done and adequately cooled, members of the press will use canoe paddles to heap on hundreds of pounds of peanut butter and jelly.
Gov. Frank Keating and First Lady Cathy Keating will officially measure the behemoth at 1 p.m. and cut the first slice after appropriate documentation for the Guinness book of World Records is completed.
"Wheat and peanuts are Oklahoma’s two top cash crops, collectively valued at the farm gate in excess of $400 million," said Kubicek. "Peanut butter and bread…a natural combination and an appropriate combination to establish a new world record sandwich."
