In December 2025, we packed up the car, grabbed some road trip snacks (of course including popcorn), and headed south for a husband-and-wife adventure to the Campground Owners Expo (COE) in Branson, Missouri. As owners of a small family business, opportunities like this are always exciting — a chance to meet incredible people, learn new ideas, and share our popcorn with a whole new audience.
And what a place to do it!
Discovering Branson
If you’ve never been to Branson, it’s truly a special spot. The town is full of energy and charm — packed with great shopping, live shows around every corner, and some seriously delicious food. Even though we were there for the expo, we made sure to explore a bit and soak in the atmosphere. It’s easy to see why families love visiting this area.
A highlight from our adventures around town was stopping in The Pepper Palace and seeing our Spicy Buffalo Popcorn being sold. It is extremely rewarding to stumble upon our products out and about!
Meeting the Camping Community
The heart of the trip was the COE, where we had the chance to connect with campground owners from all over North America. One of our favorite parts of attending events like this is hearing everyone’s stories — each campground has its own personality, community, and traditions.
We were thrilled to meet so many wonderful owners who were excited about bringing our popcorn to their camp stores for the upcoming camping season. There’s something pretty special about knowing our popcorn might be enjoyed around campfires across the country.
Since the show, we have even added new items like our campfire popper: check it out here.
So this summer, if you happen to spot our popcorn “in the wild” at a campground, be sure to snap a photo and share it with us. We love seeing where it pops up!
Learning From the Experts
Another highlight was attending breakout sessions focused on online promotion and marketing. The panels were packed with an impressive mix of speakers — former NFL players, bloggers, influencers, YouTubers, authors and more! - all shared insights on building brands and connecting with audiences.
One especially fun moment happened when a blogger we met (be sure to check out her out on Instagram: @gleason_family_adventures) mentioned our popcorn during the panel discussion. After that, the popcorn jokes just kept popping for the rest of the presentation. Haley — owner and VP of Marketing and Merchandising — absolutely loved every minute of it.
A Camping Kid at Heart
For Haley, this expo was extra meaningful. She grew up camping, so being surrounded by campground owners and seeing the latest ideas in the camping industry felt a little like coming full circle.
One thing that stood out was how many vendors were creating new experiences specifically for kids and families. From creative play spaces to bumpy barrels to water activities, there were so many ideas that our own kids would have absolutely loved.
Glamping… Wagon Style
One booth that really caught our attention featured covered wagons transformed into luxury glamping cabins. These weren’t your typical wagons — they were beautifully designed with comfortable interiors, cozy sleeping spaces, and all the touches that make camping feel like a special getaway.
We especially enjoyed touring the accessible wagon, which included a wide entry, ramp access, and zero transitions throughout the space. Accessibility is something that’s incredibly important to our family. Our six-year-old is in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy, so seeing thoughtful design that allows more families to enjoy the outdoors together means a lot to us.
Standing inside that wagon, we could already picture it — a family glamping trip, kids laughing, campfires glowing, and of course… popcorn in hand.
Looking Ahead to Camping Season
Trips like this remind us why we love what we do. From farmers’ fields to camp stores, from road trips to campfires — popcorn has a way of bringing people together.
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone we met at the COE and can’t wait to see our popcorn popping up in campgrounds across North America this coming season.
And remember… if you see it out there in the wild, tag us and let us know where you found it! 🍿🚐
