Javascript is required to use this website.

Farm couple grows popcorn business from a single row

Gene Lucht
Mar 31, 2019
Mar 31, 2019 Updated Apr 1, 2019

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

BARNES CITY, Iowa — It’s not unusual to hear the familiar sound of corn popping when you stop by to see Bill and Ginger Grubb.

kAm“xE’D ;FDE H9@ H6 2C6] (6’C6 A@A4@C? A6@A=6[” v:?86C D2JD]k^Am

kAm%96 vCF33D 92G6 72C>65 7@C >2?J J62CD :? E9:D 4@C?6C @7 |292D<2 r@F?EJ] %96J’G6 2=D@ 8C@H? A@A4@C? 7@C BF:E6 2 76H J62CD] qFE :E H2D @?=J 23@FE 2 564256 28@ E92E E96J 24EF2==J H6?E :?E@ E96 A@A4@C? 3FD:?6DD 2D vCF33 !C6>:F> !@AA:?8 r@C?]k^Am

Grubbs welcome sign — The Grubbs farm on Bill’s family land — he is the fifth generation — in Mahaska County, Iowa.
Photo by Gene Lucht

kAmq:== :D 2 7:7E9\86?6C2E:@? 72C>6C H9@D6 72>:=J 925 >@G65 E@ E9:D 9@>6DE625 :? `gfc[ 3FE v:?86C H2D?’E 7C@> E96 72C>]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 2 E@H?:6[” D96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmqFE D96 8C6H FA :? 2 9@FD69@=5 H96C6 A@A4@C? H2D A@AF=2C] w6C 72E96C 6G6? 3@F89E 2 E962E6C DEJ=6 A@A4@C? >2<6C 7@C E96 9@FD6] $@ H96? D96 2?5 q:== >2CC:65 :? `hfa[ :E 5:5?’E E2<6 96C =@?8 E@ 4@?G:?46 9:> E@ A=2?E 2 C@H @C EH@ @7 A@A4@C?]k^Am

kAm“(6 DE2CE65 @FE H:E9 @?6 A2DD 5@H? E96 7:6=5[” q:== D2JD] “(6 A:4<65 :E @? E96 4@3 2?5 DE@C65 :E :? 2 #F336C>2:5 82C3286 42?]”k^Am

kAm~G6C E96 J62CD E96J 3682? E@ @776C A@A4@C? E@ 7C:6?5D] %96J 5@?2E65 :E E@ 492C:E:6D @C 7@C FD6 2E =@42= 6G6?ED] }6:893@CD <?6H E96> 2D E96 72C>6CD H9@ 8C6H E96:C @H? A@A4@C?]k^Am

kAm“%96? @?6 52J 2 7C:6?5 @7 >:?6 D2:5 ‘J@F D9@F=5 8@ 4@>>6C4:2=[’” v:?86C D2JD] “p?5 D@ H6 5:5]”k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm%96 677@CE 3682? 2D 2 A2CE?6CD9:A 36EH66? v:?86C 2?5 EH@ @7 96C 7C:6?5D[ !2EE: r@==:?D 2?5 |2C8: r@?DE2?E:?@ :? a_`_] q:== 4@?E:?F65 E@ 8C@H E96 A@A4@C?[ 6IA2?5:?8 9:D 677@CED] p?5 E96 E9C66 H@>6? 3682? E@ =62C? 2== 23@FE A24<28:?8 2?5 >2C<6E:?8] %96J 7@F?5 @FE 23@FE E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? >:4C@H2G6 A@A4@C? 2?5 @E96C EJA6D] %96J H@C<65 E@ >2C<6E E96:C AC@5F4E E@ 2 G2C:6EJ @7 3FD:?6DD6D]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 2 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD q:== 2?5 v:?86C 3@F89E @FE E96:C A2CE?6CD 2?5 E@@< @G6C E96 3FD:?6DD 7@C E96>D6=G6D]k^Am

They grow two different types of popcorn — butterfly kernels and mushroom kernels. They refer to the shape of the popped product.
Photo by Gene Lucht

kAm%96J D2J E96 c_ J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 E96 724E E92E E96J 8C@H 2 E2DEJ G2C:6EJ @7 A@A4@C? 96=AD >2<6 E96:C AC@5F4E 2 AC6>:F> @?6] %96J D2J E96J 2C6 D@>6H92E F?FDF2= :? E92E E96J 8C@H EH@ 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 A@A4@C? — 3FEE6C7=J <6C?6=D 2?5 >FD9C@@> <6C?6=D]k^Am

kAm%96 ?2>6D 92G6 ?@E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 E2DE6 @C :?8C65:6?ED] x?DE625[ E96J C676C E@ E96 D92A6 @7 E96 A@AA65 AC@5F4E] |@DE >@G:6 E962E6C 2?5 9@>6 D2=6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ 2C6 3FEE6C7=J A@A4@C?[ H9:49 A@AD FA :?E@ 3:8 3FEE6C7=J\D92A65 A:646D] %96 >FD9C@@> A@A4@C? A@AD :?E@ 2 >@C6 4@>A24E <6C?6= E92E :D @7E6? FD65 7@C <6EE=6 4@C? 2?5 @E96C 4@2E65 AC@5F4ED]k^Am

kAm“!@A4@C? :D C62==J 72:C=J 62DJ E@ 8C@H[” q:== D2JD] “%96 EC:4<J A2CE :D E96 >@:DEFC6]”k^Am

kAm%96 A@A4@C? ?665D E@ 36 2E 23@FE `b]d E@ `c A6C46?E >@:DEFC6[ 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAmp?5 E96 4@FA=6 D2JD E96J 92G6 C624965 2? 286 H96C6 E96J H:== ?665 E@ >2<6 2 564:D:@? H96E96C E@ 6IA2?5 E96 3FD:?6DD 2?5 A6C92AD 6G6?EF2==J D6== :E @C DE2CE H:?5:?8 5@H? AC@5F4E:@?] $:?46 E96 A@A4@C? 362CD E96 72>:=J ?2>6[ :E H@F=5 36 5:77:4F=E E@ D6== E96 3C2?5 E@ D@>6@?6 @FED:56 E96 72>:=J F?=6DD E96 ?6H @H?6CD H6C6 8@:?8 E@ 492?86 E96 ?2>6 @7 E96 AC@5F4E[ E96 4@FA=6 D2:5]k^Am

Grubbs popcoen — Bill and Ginger have enjoyed growing both popcorn and a family-owned popcorn business that bears the family name.
Photo by Gene Lucht

kAm$E:==[ E96J 92G6 6?;@J65 8C@H:?8 3@E9 A@A4@C? 2?5 2 72>:=J\@H?65 A@A4@C? 3FD:?6DD] p?5 E96J D2J :E :D D2E:D7J:?8 E@ C6=2I @? 2 46?EFCJ 72C> @? 2 8C2G6= C@25 2?5 <?@H E92E A6@A=6 2C6 6?;@J:?8 J@FC AC@5F4E :? @E96C 9@>6D @? @E96C C@25D 2== @G6C E96 DE2E6 2?5 E96 4@F?ECJ]k^Am

kAm“$@>6H96C6 9F?5C65D @7 >:=6D 2H2J E96C6 2C6 <:5D D:EE:?8 :? 7C@?E @7 E96 %' 62E:?8 vCF33 !C6>:F> !@AA:?8 r@C?[” v:?86C D2JD]k^Am