>> Indiana makes many things.

The state is a leading producer of hardwood furniture, RVs, and caskets.

But there's one other thing that Indiana does better than anywhere else... popcorn!

That's right, in 2021, Indiana passed Nebraska as the country's leading producer of this beloved snacking staple.

Planting a kernel-popping 97,000 acres across the Hoosier state.

And few farmers do it better than Brian Lehman.

Brian is the owner and operator of Amish Country Popcorn in Berne, Indiana.

>> Each ear will have -- if you count the kernels around, it's always in multiples of two.

And I'm not really sure why Indiana is -- it must be location.

It isn't that we have any better growing conditions or -- it just works for us.

♪ >> And whether he knows why or not, it's been working for more than 40 years.

>> My parents put it in the ground when I was 6 years old for me, they don't know why.

Growing up, I remember my sixth grade school teacher was a real fan.

I'd take it to school to her.

I got out of school, I wanted to farm.

And my daddy was just getting his break, and he said, there's not enough for both of us.

Let's plant more popcorn and see if we can market it.

And it turned into what we're doing today.

>> These days, Amish Country Popcorn produces some 8 to 9 million pounds of these iconic kernels each year.

But let's back up.

What exactly is popcorn?

And how does it go from this... to this?

>> Just like vegetables, it's like there's all kinds of peppers, jalapeño peppers, bell peppers, hot peppers there's all kinds of corn.

Popcorn is actually different.

It's harder.

The shell is harder.

So it will hold the moisture inside the kernel long enough.

When it -- when it gets hot, it actually creates an explosion, which is what makes it pop.

>> But not all popcorn is created equal.

Amish Country grows a number of varieties, each with distinct differences.

>> So we have one we call mushroom, and you don't know what it is, but you've seen it.

It's round, pops in a ball.

Then the rest we would call butterfly, where they just spread out like a normal popcorn kernel would.

The red, the blue and the purple -- for whatever reason, especially the purple, is higher in antioxidants.

It intrigues people, and it gets people guessing.

>> Popcorn will grow high all summer long, but as the weather starts to turn, the plants and the corn dry out until they are just right.

>> We use the same type of machine to harvest our popcorn as you would regular corn or soybeans.

So there's slight differences, but not major.

>> Once it's harvested, it's up to you to decide how to enjoy it.

But Brian does have some expert thoughts.

I like a popper that has a stirrer in it, and vents for the air to get out.

It seems to me, it makes the best popcorn.

>> Whatever way you prepare it, remember, popcorn is a whole grain snack.

So go wild and enjoy!

>> So I think people eat popcorn because it's -- it's good to eat, number one.

And depending how you pop it and what you put on it, it can be very healthy for you.

It is -- it's just a very satisfying snack.