World's Largest Peanut Boil -- and how

We can't decide what's most impressive about the World's Largest Peanut Boil (which we wrote about last year): the sheer magnitude of the operation or the degree of kindness of these Shriners exhibit as they raise money for kids in need of medical care.

On that first point, consider this. The Crenshaw Country Shrine Club in Luverne, Alabama, trucked in 12.5 tons of green, jumbo "runner" type peanuts from Florida. That's a tractor-trailer full. They had 18 large pots boiling all-day every day, starting the Wednesday before Labor Day through Saturday, when we visited, and on into Sunday or Monday. They have a giant propane tank beside the pavillion that pipes gas to 18 burners. They use a fire hose to fill the pots. There's a drainage trough built into the floor.

Dr. Beall, an area dentist and Shriner, told us they have the Guiness Book of World Records designation for, you guessed it, the World's Largest Peanut Boil.

Based on some of the details we gleaned, gross proceeds probably came out in the neighborhood of $140,000. They say they'd sell a greater tonnage if they had more, younger, stronger Shriners to help keep the pots roiling from dawn to dusk for a few more days. It's hot, tiring work.

Luverne bills itself the "Friendliest City in the South." It's a designation we would be inclined to agree with were it not for the shocking, racist jokes one boisterous Shriner shared with us for no apparent reason.

Old South inclinations aside, this is simply an awesome enterprise. And the peanuts were pretty tasty, too. Not our favorite variety, but delicious nonetheless.