Prior to March 2021, Steve Barnhart didn’t own a cornhole apparel company. He hadn’t shipped Carl the Gopher branded cornhole products from Canton to all 50 states and three countries (Canada, Japan and Australia). He didn’t even have a filing system.

“This company has redefined who I am as a person,” Steve said. “I started as a cornhole player who just loved the 1980 movie Caddyshack and wanted better pro-style bags. A few short years later, our daily sales are through the roof.”

One year into the company, Steve met Kristen Prieur.

“We’re both from South Lyon and met through cornhole,” he said. “We were playing in the 5th of Novi league run by Lee and Karen Sterzik, the famous cornhole couple of southeast Michigan. I was frazzled. She had just closed her insurance agency. She looked at my ‘file system’, had a good laugh, then said, ‘I think I can help you’. And she has tremendously. She brought order and support to the operation.”

Steve handles the consulting, networking, sales, and design side. Kristen handles the supply chain, logistics and vendors. Together they comprise a thriving home-run business.

“Our number-one bestseller is custom apparel,” Steve said. “Then it’s custom pro-style bags like the BG Sorcerer or Wizard Ls. And custom cornhole boards, built by Blast Cornhole in Wixom and designed by us.”

Southeast Michigan is one of the largest, most active cornhole communities in the entire United States.

“It’s true,” he said. “The scene here is amazing thanks to people like Zack Olevenick, the ACL state director runs Motor City Cornhole. Josh Bates runs Mutha Shuckas downriver. Daniela Luna runs the Youth Cornhole Organization. Kari Kahanec runs the Plymouth leagues. And lots more.”

CaddySack does collaborations with top cornhole bag manufacturers like Titan (Atlanta, GA) and BG (Houston, TX).

“Rich Chamness, the owner of BG, said we were their number-one most popular collab in 2024,” he said. “A couple years earlier I was just doodling a gopher on a napkin. It’s insane.”

CaddySack also sponsors 12-15 players, like Jayden Ellis.

“He’s a teen phenom in Grand Rapids,” he said. “We also sponsor charities like Stronger Warrior in Milford and Detroit Association of the Deaf cornhole in Livonia. We’ve helped raise money for an alcohol rehab center and Ricky Dexter, a man who broke his back.”

What is the key to their success?

“You need to go all-in,” he said. “I quit drinking, quit my cherished golf and fantasy football leagues, amassed a thinktank of friends, and the support from our fans is outstanding.”

The breakout success of CaddySack is a masterclass in how to market and grow opportunities. The company’s motto is Build Grow Give, which is tattooed on Steve’s forearm as a permanent reminder of his commitment.

“Our dream is to build the Caddypad, a barndominium in Canton for cornhole that we can live at and Airbnb when we’re traveling.”

CaddySack is actively hiring graphic designers. Adobe Illustrator proficiency is a plus. Apply now: steve@caddysackcornhole.com Homepage https://www.caddysackcornhole.com/