CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 6,729,760	$ 5,476,486	$ 5,829,002
Costs and expenses:
Cost of Goods and Services Sold	5,623,903	4,531,688	5,025,514
Selling, general and administrative expenses	496,310	502,794	463,271
Asset impairments	6,784	7,611	384
Interest expense	51,904	61,837	71,373
Loss on debt extinguishment	16,841	1,778	0
Total costs and expenses	6,195,742	5,105,708	5,560,542
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	534,018	370,778	268,460
Income taxes	121,153	92,476	69,681
Earnings from continuing operations	412,865	278,302	198,779
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes	0	1,907	(528)
Income taxes	0	706	158
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	1,201	(686)
Net earnings	$ 412,865	$ 279,503	$ 198,093
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Earnings from continuing operations	$ 3.43	$ 2.34	$ 1.69
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0.01	(0.01)
Net earnings	3.43	2.35	1.68
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
Earnings from continuing operations	3.38	2.31	1.67
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0.01	(0.01)
Net earnings	$ 3.38	$ 2.32	$ 1.66