In 2015, Nate and Stacey Freitag founded Free Day Popcorn Company with a simple goal: to provide the freshest popcorn possible. The name "Free Day" comes from the German meaning of the Freitags' last name— "frei" meaning "free" and "tag" meaning "day."

Free Day Popcorn is grown in the heart of America along the Kansas-Nebraska border on a farm that has been in Nate’s family for generations. After tasting popcorn straight from the field, Nate and Stacey were struck by how much fresher and crisper it was than typical grocery store popcorn. Inspired by this difference, Nate began researching high-quality popcorn seed and rented a few acres from his parents’ farm. From these humble beginnings, Free Day Popcorn has become a true labor of love for the Freitags.

Why Free Day Popcorn? Unlike commercial processors who may store popcorn for up to 18 months before it reaches the package, our popcorn is as fresh as it gets. Fresher popcorn means a more consistent pop, with fewer unpopped kernels and less waste. It also means a lighter, crispier texture with fewer hulls. Our customers tell us it’s the best popcorn they’ve ever tasted—even without added toppings!

At Free Day Popcorn, we believe people value knowing where their food comes from and having a connection to the farmers who grow it.

Free Day Popcorn is proudly:

• Kosher Certified (Star-K): Certified by one of the most trusted names in kosher food regulation.
• Non-GMO: We grow all of our popcorn naturally—no genetic modification.
• Gluten-Free: Safe for gluten-sensitive snackers.
• 100% Whole Grain: Every kernel is a whole, unprocessed grain—just the way nature intended.

About Us

In addition to managing the farm, Nate teaches high school online through Insight School of Kansas, K12, Inc. He holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from California University of Pennsylvania and completed his undergraduate studies in Citizenship Education at Juniata College. Before moving back to the Midwest, he taught social studies at Huntingdon Area High School in Pennsylvania.

Stacey oversees sales and marketing for Free Day Popcorn while also caring for their four daughters. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Communication from Juniata College and has worked as a:

• Community Relations and Volunteer Coordinator at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital
• Marketing Coordinator for an engineering firm
• Marketing Coordinator for a startup wound care company

New & Noteworthy

Free Day Popcorn has been featured on Pure Nebraska and RFD TV, sharing our story with popcorn lovers near and far.

Awards & Honors

• Star-K Kosher Certification
• Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Grant – Awarded by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and USDA (2024)
• Highest Efficiency Winner, Popcorn – Awarded by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln TAPS Program (2023)
• Site and Building Development Fund (SBDF) Grant – From the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (2022)
• Thriving in Thayer County Award – Presented by Thayer County Economic Development Alliance (2022)
• USDA Value-Added Producers Grant (VAPG) – Featured in the Center for Rural Affairs newsletter and the Superior Express (2021)

Thank you for joining us on this journey and for supporting farm-fresh, family-grown popcorn!