Free Day Popcorn is a family farm in Byron, Nebraska, where the Freitag family grows popcorn and sells the kernels straight from the farmer who grew them. Co-founder Stacey Freitag answered our Meet the Maker questions — including what first-timers get wrong, what to know before the drive, and what’s new this season.
1. In one sentence, what is Free Day Popcorn? Free Day Popcorn is our family farm in Byron, Nebraska, where we grow popcorn and sell the kernels straight from the farmer who grew them.
2. What’s the story behind it? In early 2015, Nate came to Stacey with an idea. His dad, Lonny, had grown popcorn since the 1980s and sent it all off to large commercial processors, where it was mixed in with everyone else’s. What if they grew some of their own and sold it under their own brand, farm fresh, straight to customers? They planted 1.5 acres that spring and officially started the business on October 12, 2015, storing the first harvest in their basement, selling to small local theaters and online — and selling out. They’ve grown every year since, to several hundred acres today. The name: Free Day is a play on Freitag, which means Friday in German — “Frei” means free and “Tag” means day.
3. What’s the one thing first-timers always get wrong? “We’re a popcorn farm, not a gourmet popcorn shop! We sell the kernels, so you get to do the popping (and the flavoring) at home.” The storefront has yellow, white and mushroom kernels, Popping Ears you can pop right on the cob, poppers and seasonings. The shop is open limited hours while they’re still out farming most days — check their Facebook page for current hours before making the drive.
4. Stacey’s personal favorite The shop as a one-stop shop for popping at home. Her current obsession: popping a batch and tossing it with the Maple Butter popcorn seasoning they stock from The Spice House — “kind of a kettle corn with a light maple flavor, and it’s delicious!”
5. Something about Byron most visitors drive right past Byron has only about 60 people, but is full of fellow entrepreneurs and small businesses. Come on a Wednesday evening and many shops are open, since like Free Day, many owners have other jobs during the day.
6. Anything new or exciting? White Popping Ears are coming back this season. Popping Ears are whole ears of popcorn you can pop right on the cob in the microwave, and they’re oldest daughter Makenna’s FFA project — she rounds up friends to hand pick them, then conditions and packages every ear.
7. What’s it like working at Free Day Popcorn? “Very much a family affair.” Nate grows the popcorn alongside his dad, Stacey handles the business side and customers, and their four girls have been filling bags since they were little. Their oldest runs her own business inside the business with the Popping Ears. People who thrive there “don’t mind a little of everything: hand picking ears in the field one day, packing orders the next, and answering a customer’s popping question on a Saturday.”
8. Where to find them
- Website: freedaypopcorn.com
- Facebook: @freedaypopcorn
- Instagram: @freedaypopcorn
- Listing: Free Day Popcorn
Photos courtesy of Free Day Popcorn.