Brazil — As its name suggests, the seventh-annual Popcorn Festival in Brazil this weekend celebrates one of Indiana’s top crops: popcorn.
The festival also recognizes a native son — Orville Redenbacher — who did his best to perfect the fluffy white snack food.
Amid the salt-and-pepper popcorn, the carmel and kettle corn, the popcorn knick-knacks, and the bags full of popcorn, there is a display of Orville Redenbacher memorabilia, and a woman eager to share stories and talk about the man she knew as Dad.
Gail Tuminello still resides in Valparaiso, the northern Indiana town where Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn first became famous. But she enjoys traveling to Brazil for the annual festival and sharing her father’s love of good popcorn.
“It’s surprising how many people want to talk to me because they knew my father,” Tuminello said Friday afternoon while visiting at the Riley home of her daughter, Pam Bertoli.
“Orville’s sister lived in Center Point,” Tuminello said. “And I had a man call from Fort Wayne who said he went to [Brazil] high school with my dad and he has a copy of the yearbook and he wants to show me. He said he’s coming to the festival.”
From 1 to 5 p.m. today, Tuminello will greet the public at the Brazil City Park in a small building full of photos, videos and other memorabilia.
“They’ve been so nice to us and have us be part of the festival ,” Tuminello said of the festival organizers. And that is why she shared boxes of memorabilia and videotapes of commercials that are now displayed as part of the festival. The organizers’ intent is to one day establish a permanent local exhibit about Redenbacher.
“I knew it was someplace people wanted it, and would take care of it, and it would be displayed,” she said of her donation of the items.
Redenbacher was born in 1907 at Brazil, and attended school there through high school. He went on to Purdue, and met his soon-to-be wife, Corinne, who was a native of West Lafayette.
After college, Orville taught at a Vigo County school at Fontanet for a year before becoming the county Extension agent in Terre Haute. His love of the 4-H program was a constant throughout his life, Tuminello said.
The Redenbacher family lived in Terre Haute for several years before moving to southern Indiana, where Orville managed Princeton Farms.
“That was a great place to grow up,” Tuminello said. “I had the run of the place.”
As the baby of the family, her older sisters were soon gone off to college and she was on her own with her outgoing parents. Her father was working on hybridizing popcorn while he was head of Princeton Farms, she said, but it wasn’t until he and a partner took over the Chester seed business in Valparaiso that he developed the top-popping popcorn that would make Redenbacher a household name.
Growing up, Tuminello said the family always snacked on popcorn. But after the success of the Redenbacher brand took off, it seemed like they enjoyed popcorn even more. The family favorite these days is the Movie Butter microwave popcorn.
Her father loved making the commercials and the attention he received from the success of his popcorn, she said.
“He loved being famous,” she said. “He was never too busy to talk to someone or spend time with someone.”
Even after arthritis in his hands limited his ability to sign autographs, he would still give out stickers that read, “I met Orville Redenbacher.”
One of her father’s often-shared stories about his popcorn comes from the early days of attempting to market it and being overwhelmed by the challenge. Orville and his partner went to Chicago to meet with a marketing firm representative, who told him that using his photo and name would be the selling hook.
“He used to laugh that he paid $12,000 for someone to tell him he should use the same name his mother gave him for free,” Tuminello said.
The popcorn first started selling at Marshall Field in the food pantry. Some people thought it wouldn’t sell because it was too expensive, but it turns out the public wanted a “gourmet” popping corn.
“It is still the best-selling popcorn,” Tuminello said proudly. For a while, sales dropped when the company took Orville’s picture off the box. But when his image was added back to the packages, sales took off again.
Despite all the fame that came with having the world’s best gourmet popcorn, Orville was a down-to-earth person who enjoyed many hobbies such as traveling, photography, music and sports. As a young man, he was a cross country and track runner, and he played the sousaphone.
He was a member of Kiwanis, and Tuminello said she often accompanied her parents as they made public speaking tours.
The city of Valparaiso has its own popcorn festival that started about 30 years ago based on the success of Redenbacher’s popcorn. That festival has morphed over time, she said, and she is not involved in it as she was in the early years.
“The Brazil festival is more interested in having the family participate,” she said.
In fact, only blood relatives of Redenbacher are allowed to judge the look-alike contest that was conducted Friday evening.
“Two years ago, the winner so uncannily looked like my dad it was freakish,” Tuminello said.
She and her daughters and grandchildren have fun judging the contest. One year, they chose a woman winner, another year it was a child.
Sadly, there are no male Redenbacher descendants, and the name has died out, at least in its Clay County line, though the resemblance to Orville still shows up in the male grandchildren.
This weekend in Brazil, a lot of people will be looking like Orville — with their hands in a bag of popcorn and their mouths watering for more.
Lisa Trigg can be reached at lisa.trigg@tribstar.com or by calling (812) 231-4254.
Local & Bistate
Tasty treats, history abundant at Popcorn Fest
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Patriotism & Honor
From his vantage point, Sonner Faught could see almost every volunteer in the cemetery.
-
Graduation turns to mourning in Clinton
Jeana Lunsford’s graduation from South Vermillion High School Saturday should have been a time of celebration.
-
School choice proponents foresee growth of vouchers
Twenty-seven Vigo County students benefited from tax-supported vouchers during the first year of the Choice Scholarship Program, and that number is expected to grow for 2012-13, say Indiana school choice leaders who visited Terre Haute Thursday.
-
Tales of obstruction meet first takeover attempts
A decade after Indiana legislators gave the state the power to take over chronically failing schools, the first implementation of the law is meeting with resistance, skepticism and questions about its costs.
-
THE OFF SEASON: Raising a flag for my father, veteran or not
My daughter, Ellen, and I stood at my parents’ graves on Mother’s Day a few weeks back and talked about how it couldn’t possibly have been so long since we lost them. My dad, for instance, has been gone for 16 years, and that is nearly unimaginable
-
3 rescued from burning residence
Quick action on the part of some first-responders is credited with saving the lives of three people in a Vermillion County fire early Saturday morning, according to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department.
-
He never forgot a name: Friends remember victim of fire at Garfield Towers
When Freddie Poore met you, he never forgot you.
-
Hometown boy embraces ‘Promise I Made’: Clinton native Ken Kercheval takes role in Dreams Come True production
Thanks to some help from a hometown boy in Hollywood, “This Promise I Made” is still on track to be kept in Clinton.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Many say they don’t vote in primary because of tag that comes with it
A couple of columns ago, I posed a question about why most Indiana polling places on primary election day had so few customers.
-
Police looking for convenience store robber
Police are seeking a robbery suspect following a Saturday morning armed robbery at the Jiffy MiniMart at 25th Street and Eighth Avenue.
-
Graduation ‘responsibility’: Rose-Hulman stages 134th commencement exercises
Inventor Dean Kamen gave a first-hand demonstration Saturday of how to be an innovator.
-
THE OFF SEASON: To the seniors, one last lecture before you go …
It dawned on me one day last week, as I sat at my desk in my teacher clothes and shoes, a stack of ungraded essays calling to me from a rather tall and depressing pile, that I hadn’t missed a high school graduation in 33 years.
-
Water rescuers
Emergency personnel wheel a man who was removed from a vehicle that had been driven into the water at Crystal Lake on Boston Avenue near 14th Street at about 9 p.m. Friday.
-
For many, camping outdoors is the way to beat the heat, enjoy nature
Stringing up fishing poles in the shade of American flags, households full of Hoosiers are packing into parks across the state this weekend.
-
Towns along National Road readying for next week’s miles-long yard sale
Stretching 824 miles from Baltimore to St. Louis, the National Road — known as U.S. 40 through Indiana — will soon be the host site for perhaps the longest bargain market in the country.
-
Rose grads honoring late president Branam at commencement today
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Class of 2012 will honor the memory of Matt Branam during today’s commencement ceremony by wearing special pins with the phrase “Make It Happen; Make It Fun,” a favorite saying of the former Rose-Hulman president, who died unexpectedly on April 20.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 26, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Vigo County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
A fallen soldier returns home
An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Arronn D. Fields early Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
-
Official touts trade with northern neighbor
A top Canadian diplomat told a Terre Haute audience Thursday his country was “disappointed” when President Obama at least temporarily rejected a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
-
Caution urged for summer’s kickoff
Lane restrictions in construction zones on Interstate 70 and other highways around the state will be lifted to accommodate holiday travel for the Memorial Day Weekend.
-
Letters delivered
Several positions will be eliminated this summer at the Terre Haute mail processing facility as the U.S. Postal Service begins moving the operation to Indianapolis, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman has confirmed.
-
Companies seek Vigo tax abatements
Two Vigo County companies are seeking tax abatements for expansion projects, one of which is included as part of a county incentive package.
-
High-speed chase suspect caught in West Virginia
The suspect in a cross-country, high-speed chase originating in Terre Haute last week was reportedly in federal custody Thursday evening.
-
Second victim of deadly I-70 semi-trailer crash identified
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the passenger of a semi-tractor crash on May 16 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 12-mile marker.
- VIGO COUNTY JAIL LOG: May 22-24, 2012
-
Burn ban in effect for Vigo County through holiday weekend
Vigo County officials have issued a burn ban effective Thursday and remains in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
-
Brazil remembers a Fallen Son
A small town seemed sadly quiet Wednesday, waiting to honor a local fallen warrior.
-
ISU OKs four-year degree guarantee
Indiana State University has announced a four-year “graduation guarantee” for students enrolling this fall and beyond.
-
Dems tout good side of compromise
Indiana Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, chosen to run as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate John Gregg, said during a stop Wednesday in Terre Haute that bipartisan experience is a key factor in creating jobs and legislation to help Hoosiers statewide.
-
Motorcyclist dies, motorist charged after accident
A Terre Haute man has died of injuries he sustained in a two-motorcycle, one-car crash that also injured another motorcyclist late Tuesday. The incident has led to the arrest of the car’s driver.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Raw Video: National Mall Concert Shut Down
Beryl Threatens Rain, Winds on Southeast Coast
Tropical Storm Beryl Strengthens, Nears US Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Shell Readies Arctic Drill Ship
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Today in History
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Raw Video: Obama Lays Wreath on Memorial Day
Astronauts Enter World's 1st Private Supply Ship
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump
Dog runs alonside cyclists for 1,100 miles
Lady Gaga Cancels Indonesian Show After Threats
Long Story Short: Beyonce back on stage
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges
Has Snooki Named Her Baby?
Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend
Beyonce Entertains the First Family
Inspiration for the class of 2012
Colorado College Student Shot While Trespassing
Will Smith & Josh Brolin on "Men in Black 3"
80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump
JWoww Sizzles in a Black Bikini
Sliders on the Grill
Cruise ship crunch
Backstage With Beyonce
