Farmer Bob didn’t set out to follow the traditional path into agriculture. In fact, his story began in what he calls an “unexpected mid-life retirement.” But rather than slowing down, he chose to pursue the dream that had always been in the back of his mind: farming.
As a first-generation farmer, the odds weren’t in his favor. Land is expensive, margins are tight, and success often depends on selling to large-scale markets. But Bob knew the only way to make it work was to grow something he could sell directly to customers. The question was: what crop would give him that chance?
The answer turned out to be popcorn.
Why Popcorn?
Popcorn is more than just a snack—it’s nostalgia in a bowl. Everyone has a memory tied to it: movie nights, school fundraisers, holiday tins, or stovetop batches with too much butter. Bob saw that connection and leaned into it.
But to stand out, he needed something different. He chose mushroom popcorn—a variety that pops into large, round balls. Unlike the light, winged “butterfly” style, mushroom popcorn holds its shape and texture, making it perfect for caramel coatings, kettle corn, and gourmet creations.
More Than One Variety
What started with mushroom popcorn has since expanded:
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Mushroom Popcorn – large, round, hearty kernels perfect for coatings and gourmet snacks.
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Yellow Butterfly Popcorn – the classic movie-night style, with bigger wings and a familiar crunch.
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White Butterfly Popcorn – small, tender, and easy to eat, with a delicate flavor that disappears by the handful.
Each variety is grown on Bob’s farm in Princeton, Kansas, giving customers a choice between tradition, novelty, and everything in between.
Clean Farming, Full Circle
Bob’s approach to farming is simple: grow popcorn with care and integrity. That means:
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Non-GMO crops only
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No glyphosate used in production
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Conservative, careful practices that put quality over shortcuts
Even the byproducts of popcorn farming don’t go to waste. Any grains discarded in the cleaning process are fed to the farm’s heritage hogs, a rare breed known as Large Blacks, creating a closed-loop system where nothing is wasted.
From Seed to Snack
Princeton Popcorn is different because every step happens in one place. From planting and harvesting to cleaning, packaging, and popping, Farmer Bob manages the entire process on his Kansas farm. That means every bag is single-origin, fully traceable, and handled with the kind of care that big commodity popcorn simply can’t match.
The result? Popcorn that’s fresher, cleaner, and rooted in the kind of pride only a first-generation farmer could bring.
The Heart of Princeton
Nestled in the small community of Princeton, Kansas, the farm is more than just a field of kernels. It’s a story of taking risks, chasing a dream, and proving that farming doesn’t have to be inherited to be done with heart.
Every bag of Princeton Popcorn carries that story. It’s popcorn grown with care, popped with pride, and shared with anyone who believes that simple food can still be special.
Princeton Popcorn. Straight from the field, right to the bowl.
