Pahvz Kettlecorn owner works to expand business
From left, Pahvz Kettlecorn logo and owner Mike Pahvitse.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Pahvz Kettlecorn evolved after Mike Pahvitse decided to try a recipe for it, had his mother Lori taste it — she said it tasted awesome— so the kernels kept popping.
He sold it to friends then at the Tribal Business Center.
That was in 2020 when Covid became prevalent and he was stricken with it twice. He ended up being hospitalized first in Pocatello then was moved to Salt Lake City. He was only given three months to live but he snapped out of it. He got stronger, started to walk again then began working with Tribal Health delivering Covid supplies. Cooking kettle corn was in the back of his mind so he went back to it.
Mike started popping it on a pot on a stovetop, then he started using a turkey fryer that enabled him to pop more. Then he got some bins and created a sifting table. Eventually he was able to purchase a kettle corn maker and has continued since.
His friends used to call him Mike Pahv so that’s how the name Pahvs Kettlecorn came about with an emphasis on the z. He asked local artist Paula Topsky Houtz to create his logo that’s all about Fort Hall — it has Mount Putnam in the background, his friend Bigfoot and the water tower on it because he remembers walking by it as he grew up.
He started out locally but eventually would like to see his kettle corn in all the Northwest casinos. Currently it’s available at the Deka Gahni Deli inside the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel. He also promotes it on social media and has a Facebook page PAHVZ Kettlecorn (facebook.com/FortHallsBestKettlecorn). He’s sold at casino concerts when he was attempting to do his food truck and kettle corn but it was too much – not enough help – so he’s stuck to kettle corn.
Mike said he tried to sell on the Tribes property in Lava but he wasn’t at the front of the strip, he was toward the back with a small sign so wasn’t too successful there and couldn’t afford to stay there. He still goes back there, however as he takes orders and has the hookup with a couple of campgrounds.
In 2022 the Farmers Market in Pocatello kept him busy, along with the Food Truck Roundup and Revive at 5. Business slowed after that until the craft fairs when he had to switch up his selling technique. At the Farmers Market he did well because people could smell his kettle corn cooking. But at craft fairs he had to promote it – at craft fairs he put together gift packs.
Popcorn sales started slowing down again so he added a courier service to his Tribal business license. He was about to get a job then his focus shifted. He decided to be similar to a Rez Uber, transport, run errands, dump trash, etc. He’s even picked up someone at the jail after the person got out at midnight and took him home.
Mike’s priority is kettle corn and his goal is to sell at the Tribal Enterprises but it has been challenging. The Enterprises want him to add a hood to his trailer, a ventilation system, 50 gallon water systems and a four sink. He’s been slowly working at it because it takes money. All the money he makes goes back into his business.
To improve his business, he’s participated in workshops to sell his product such as the Good Entrepreneurship conference at the Hotel in the fall and Rudy Soto invited him to Twin Falls for the Idaho Rural Success Summit to promote Idaho tribes and the state of Idaho working together.
He believes it would be cool to have a retail area for tribal members to sell their products in Fort Hall. “I’m just going to keep pushing it,” he said about his business and he’d like to see his kids carry it on. He intends to go to as many powwows as he can to get his name out there. He also just renewed his business license in Lava Hot Springs.
