SAINT PAUL, Minn. — At Highland Popcorn in St. Paul, the aroma of fresh-popped kernels fills the air, and the staff moves as quickly as popcorn on a hot skillet.

Co-founder Conor O’Meara, who started the business with his father, Shamus, just a year ago, said the shop’s mission goes beyond snacks.

The small-batch popcorn shop provides jobs to people with developmental disabilities — a point of pride for the tight-knit team.

“We’ve got a big, hard-working crew back there,” O’Meara said. “They’re working their butts off every single day.”

Now, the young business is tackling a big opportunity: a debut at the Minnesota State Fair.

“From the first day we opened, everyone’s said, ‘You’ve got to get to the fair,’” General Manager Craig Applebaum said. “We are so blessed that, in such a short

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