Popper Patch Popcorn began in a field just west of Clay Center. Hand-picked and shucked, it’s now available to purchase by the bag. Each holds two pounds of locally grown kernels by 9-year-old Rhett Wiethan. 

He said the idea came together because he loves eating popcorn as a snack. Then looking for a 4-H project, he brainstormed with his parents, Joe and Jessica, and they said why not grow their own? 

Joe planted the patch via tractor and planter for a total of about 24 rows or a quarter-acre. It’s a yellow corn that Joe said is similar looking to sweet corn, albeit with smaller ears – about 1.5-2 inches in diameter. The stalks are also shorter in height. 

“It was my job to water it, then the sun took care of the rest,” Rhett said. “And we fertilized it. We have a field right beside our house so it’s easy to go over there and pick it.”

Once the corn was ready, Rhett picked each ear by hand, with the help of his two younger siblings, who he hired for the project. Then it had to be shucked and shelled the ears by hand. 

“We hauled them around in totes and that was a lot of work,” he said. He removed kernels from the ears with an antique hand-crank machine that was refurbished by his grandpa. 

“Shelling is the best part, I like putting the corn through the picker,” he said. From there, the kernels are cleaned by running it through a sifter. He said this removes extra parts of the husk or corn silks.

“You just shake it and it’s clean,” Rhett said. “It only takes about 30 seconds.” 

He also did a 4-H project talk where he brought and popped the corn for everyone to sample. 

The popcorn is good on its own, he said, but he likes to add white cheddar seasoning. At home, they cook popcorn on the stove out of a seasoned pan, which adds to the overall flavor. 

Halfway through the shelling process, Rhett had harvested about 200 pounds, which was then packaged to be sold to local customers. 

“We did it a little bigger than we thought we were going to,” Joe said. “We planted the same amount we do of sweet corn and ended up with a lot more popcorn.” 

Rhett said he is saving money  from the sales to buy animals for 4-H, with his eyes on a sheep. Popper Patch popcorn can be purchased in two-pound bags by contacting Joe or Jessica via phone or on Facebook.