Campbellsville University senior Bryce Osborne never expected that dropping his brother off at college would lead to the creation of his own business. But during a long car ride to Cedarville University, a simple conversation with his dad sparked what would become “The Dapper Kernel,” a growing kettle corn brand based in Campbellsville, Kentucky.
Osborne, a business administration major with an emphasis in entrepreneurship, had always been interested in owning a business, but he didn’t know what direction to take. As he and his dad talked about his future, an idea suddenly came to him.
“You know what would be fun and something I’ve always thought about… a food truck,” Osborne said.
Growing up, Osborne worked at Chick-fil-A and Panera Bread. While the food industry itself didn’t spark his passion, the idea of owning something of his own did. That’s when his dad threw out another idea: a popcorn-themed food truck.
The concept stuck with him. It was unique. Different. And suddenly, exciting. By the end of the day, he already had a name for his business in mind.
Once the idea took hold, Osborne couldn’t stop thinking about it. He began researching everything he could find, eventually deciding that kettle corn rather than traditional popcorn was the better route. Kettle corn stays fresh longer, is easier to bag in advance, and doesn’t require the costly overhead of a food truck. Before long, he was even dreaming about it at night.
During his research, Osborne came across an online guide on how to start your own kettle corn business. It cost $30, and he hesitated, thinking it might end up being a scam. Ultimately, he decided to take the risk.
“The guy finally sent it to me, and it was actually worth it because there was a ton of information and YouTube videos of him talking about the day to day of what it’s like to sell kettle corn. It was tailored to anyone who was starting from the ground up,” Osborne said.
As the business idea took shape, Osborne turned his attention to branding. He knew he wanted a fun, mascot-style. He drew inspiration from the Savannah Bananas baseball team. His triplet brother, a graphic design student at Cedarville, happened to have a class project requiring him to consult with a small business on its branding. The timing could not have been better.
Osborne knew he wanted a “little popcorn guy,” so he used AI to generate an example. But he quickly realized its limits. His brother took the concept, reworked it, and transformed it into the polished mascot logo now known as The Dapper Kernel.
As for the name?
“What would make such a simple thing like kettle corn fun? I just started thinking about the pen stripes, red and white, having the popcorn guy dressed up in a little suit, a barbershop vibe, and that’s when I thought of the word ‘dapper,’” Osborne said. “It’s kind of like a dapper kernel.”
And thus, “The Dapper Kernel” was born.
When it came time to start making the product, Osborne realized kettle corn may be simple, but it’s far from easy.
“Kettle corn is very simple. All it is, is sugar, corn oil, salt and the kernels,” Osborne said. “That’s all it is. Four ingredients. But that doesn’t mean you can’t mess it up cause I definitely messed it up a few times.”
He began studying the types of kernels used for kettle corn and discovered that mushroom kernels, unlike butterfly kernels used for your typical movie theater popcorn, are the industry standard. Finding them, however, proved difficult. While shopping at the Amish store “Taste Like Home,” he happened to see small bags of the kernels he needed. On a whim, he asked if they happened to carry 50-pound bags, and they did.
“I’ve been partnering with them for my actual kernels,” Osborne said.
From there, it became a game of trial and error. Timing, temperature, stirring speed, everything mattered.
“The cooking process is crucial as far as all the ingredients coming together,” Osborne said. “Last time I made it, when I was really giving it out to people, I was able to get the technique down. That’s the most confident I have felt.”
Based in Campbellsville, Osborne is already finding opportunities to get his product into the community.
“I’m planning on sticking around here and selling at events and festivals,” Osborne said.
His upcoming gigs include partnering with the Chamber of Commerce to sell kettle corn at the Campbellsville Christmas parade. He plans to have around 310 bags ready by the end of the month. He’s also in early talks about filling Christmas tins for a local company, another step toward expanding his product offerings. But the journey hasn’t been without challenges.
“The biggest challenge would be financially, just having money,” Osborne said.
Starting a business on a college budget is no small task. The biggest expense was the kettle itself, which Osborne eventually found on Facebook Marketplace in Williamstown, Kentucky.
“The odds of me running into another kettle on Facebook marketplace were slim, it’s just such a small market,” Osborne said.
Buying it was another leap of faith.
“That was another instance where I needed to be an entrepreneur. I’m taking a risk,” Osborne said.
Fortunately, his involvement in Campbellsville’s E-Club helped him refine his business idea. Marcus Rodgers, a business teacher at Taylor County High School, offered free consulting services and helped students revise their business plans and pitches. This experience paid off when Osborne entered a pitch competition. Rodgers quickly recognized Osborne’s potential when they first met.
“Bryce is a young man who is full of energy, passion and a strong drive,” Rodgers said. “As a business educator, it is encouraging to interact with students like Bryce who are self-motivated. He has the skillset that it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.”
Rodgers met with Osborne three times leading up to the pitch competition, helping him shape and strengthen his business plan.
“I serve as a business consultant to the entrepreneurship club at CU,” Rodgers said. “We worked together to take his business plan to the next level. We focused on branding, organization and presentation skills. We worked well together, often brainstorming and building from each other’s ideas.”
He also noticed something that made “The Dapper Kernel” stand out from other student startups.
“I see several small startups who rush to market. They are not well thought out or prepared,” Rodgers said. “They simply have an idea, and they jump straight into business. That is not Bryce, or ‘The Dapper Kernel.’ He has been very meticulous in his planning process and has taken the startup process with fidelity. Bryce is focused on doing high quality work and has not rushed through the early stages of opening his business. This has given him a strong foundation that is now ready for growth.”
Rodgers’ guidance and encouragement played a key role in helping Osborne refine his approach and build confidence heading into the competition.
“The pitch competition was a good motivator to work on my business plan and pitch, which is something you really need to have as a business anyway,” Osborne said.
The format reminded him of “Shark Tank,” four judges, a 10-minute pitch, followed by Q&A. He walked away with first place and the highest prize amount, which was $1,000.
“It’s been a huge blessing,” Osborne said.
Osborne’s goals for “The Dapper Kernel” are both ambitious and practical. Short term, he hopes to have all of his equipment organized in a box trailer by the end of next semester.
“I want to have everything in a box trailer and ready to go when I need to go pop at live events,” Osborne said.
He also plans to be available for summer festivals.
“I want to be at the Campbellsville Fourth of July festival. I think that’s a really good opportunity,” Osborne said.
Long term, he plans to pursue a master’s degree at Campbellsville while continuing to grow the business. He doesn’t expect kettle corn to become his full-time career, but he isn’t ruling anything out.
“I want this to be a good side hustle but not something I am completely dependent on,” Osborne said. “But if it explodes that would be great. I want to be able to support it however much it grows.”
He hopes to eventually expand how customers can access his product, including live popping setups, pop-up shops and preorder options.
Throughout his journey, he took countless risks, the online guide that could’ve been a scam, the kettle purchase, the financial investment with no guarantee of success. His advice is simple.
“You’re at a time in your life right now where a lot of things are low risk,” Osborne said. “I say go for it, take the risk, even if you fail at least you can say you tried.”
Though Osborne may be the face of “The Dapper Kernel,” he is the first to acknowledge he didn’t do it alone.
“My family has been a huge help,” Osborne said. “I know supporting me had to have seemed crazy, and they were probably also scared for me as well.”
His dad helped brainstorm the concept and talk finances. His brother designed the logo. His brothers-in-law helped him deep clean the kettle. And his girlfriend, Kaylee, handed out samples during the pitch competition.
“I think it was a game changer to give people a little taste of what my business was like,” Osborne said.
And those who have tasted it agree. Andrew Vaughn, the assistant director of Residence Life at Campbellsville University, summed it up best.
“Bryce’s kettle corn business, ‘The Dapper Kernel,’ creates the perfect blend of salty and sweet,” he said. “It’s delicious, addictive, and honestly—once you start, you can’t stop poppin.’”
For Osborne, “The Dapper Kernel” is more than a business, it’s a reminder that taking a chance is sometimes the first step toward something meaningful. With his family behind him, a growing customer base in Campbellsville, and a passion for learning the craft, he’s proving that even as a college student, it’s possible to build something uniquely your own. And as he continues popping, planning and dreaming, Osborne is just getting started.
