Two Guys Poppin': 25 Years of Kettle Corn Delight

A staple at farmers markets and events across the Big Horn Basin, Two Guys Poppin' owner Tom Pederson Sr. looks back on his nearly 25 years of serving up delicious kettle corn popcorn.

In 1999, Pederson and his family were in Cody for the Fourth of July. As they worked their way through the crowd, he noticed a kettle corn stand with a long line attached. After asking the owner, Gary Mann, some questions, Pederson bought equipment from Mann and started Two Guys Poppin'.

During the first year of the business, Pederson and his brother, Richard Pederson, ran things together. Later on, Pederson's son, Tom Pederson Jr., started helping out and remains with the business.

"We were in Cody for the Fourth of July, and we saw this guy popping and all kinds of people waiting in line. So we investigated and got going with that," said Pederson Sr. "My son has helped me a lot over the years. We do remodel work, too. My brother and I, my older brother Richard, had a popper too, and we worked together for a year or so."

That first year in the business, Pederson was taken aback by the popularity of their stand. And with each successful event, they booked more events like farmers markets, going to Billings and stocking their product in stores.

Soon, it became routine on weekends that the Two Guys Poppin' stand was somewhere popping their enjoyable sweet and salty snack.

"One of the big events we went to, we were kind of blown away by how much interest there was in it and how people enjoyed it. Then it became a one-day-a-weekend thing, going to stores or other events. We've popped as far away as Laurel, Montana, and Billings," said Pederson Sr. "It's kind of a social deal for us, too. We get to see people we hadn't seen for years, meet new people, and sell them a delicious snack."

Kettle corn is a simple treat, but don't let that fool you into thinking that Two Guys Poppin' is fine with any ingredient.

Each ingredient is workshopped from using a specific oil, soybean salad oil, to the kernels, salt and sugar. Making good kettle corn is easy, but Pederson and his son aren't satisfied with good. They want to make the best batch of kettle corn for their customers.

"We started off using what Gary Mann, who we bought the machine from him, directed us to buy and what we needed. We have struggled at times to get it and had to use other products. It's still good, but it doesn't satisfy us. Every batch we make, we want it to be the best.

"There aren't too many things, oil, sugar, corn and salt," said Pederson Sr. "From the Amish brands to buying corn out of Louisiana, we shipped in pallet loads 50 to 75 50-pound bags. We discovered a brand of corn that was just as good and more available. We're right here at our local Blair's store. It's very good, works really well, and we're totally satisfied with it."

The COVID-19 pandemic strained many supply lines, and the Two Guys Poppin' weren't immune from those troubles.

At times, supply issues had Pederson and his son breaking from their usual or preferred ingredients.

"One thing we've gone through in the last two or three years is COVID. That changed some of the products we could get. What we were using was the very best. So we've had to go to different sources.

"Suppliers have changed products because of costs and whatever. It's made it difficult to get some of the product," said Pederson. "Mainly, the difficult thing has been the oil. We use soybean salad oil, and we want to continue doing that. We've found sources where we can buy a bigger quantity and get a better price."

Even with scaling back in recent years, Pederson and his son are still busy providing their tasty snack. At their peak, they went through 110 50-pound bags of popcorn in one year.

"We're not as heavy in it as we were at one point," said Pederson. "My son helped me for about a year, and we used 110 bags that year that he worked with me full-time. We were putting it in stores to sell off the shelf."

That pride and attention to detail in their kettle corn is what keeps customers coming back for one more bag and another for good measure.

"We go to Byron for the fireworks every year, and people come up to us and say, 'I bought it around the country. Yours is the best.' We take a lot of pride in that because people enjoy it. Other people there said the only reason they came to this celebration was for the kettle corn.

"Same when we go to Thermopolis for the demolition derby. When we were at the fairgrounds for the pumpkin drop and craft show, people there said the only reason they came out was to get our kettle corn. It's pretty gratifying," said Pederson Sr.

At 79, Pederson Sr. still enjoys making kettle corn but has turned more and more over to his son. "It's a nice business. My son is getting more involved in it with the bookkeeping end of it and getting materials. I'm getting up there in age, I'm 79 and not quite as driven," said Pederson Sr.

His key advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to strive to be the best and keep improving. "Always do the very, very best you can do. No matter what you're doing. Then strive to make it better. Always," said Pederson.

In the 25 years of making kettle corn, Pederson Sr. has had many fond memories during that span. From seeing friends and excited customers at their latest stop to making it a family outing as the whole family helps out with the stand.

Kettle corn is simple: apply a little heat to a popcorn kernel in oil and top that popped kernel with salt and sugar, and there you have it. But the joy it brings to people is the most meaningful to Pederson Sr.

"I've had a lot of people help me over the years. The one event we did in Laurel for several years took six or seven people to do it. The family got involved: my two daughters and my son, and helpers who helped me do remodel work helped out.

"It's amazing when I think about it. I'll take a bag of seed, and it pops up a big amount of enjoyment. It's been a good, good thing," said Pederson.