For nearly two decades, Josh Bates has called Brownstown home, but his impact reaches far beyond his neighborhood. What began as a casual backyard discovery has grown into one the USA’s most recognizable cornhole communities, Mutha Shuckers.

“I didn’t even know what cornhole was at first,” Bates said. “Back in 2008, I was at a family reunion in Ohio and my uncle said, ‘Let’s play cornhole’. I said, ‘Great. What’s that?’ We played all day and I never stopped.”

When he returned home, Bates got to work. He built his own boards with a jigsaw and made his first set of bags by hand.

“Almost immediately, neighbors started asking for sets,” he said. “That’s when I realized the potential.”

Mutha Shuckers, a grassroots cornhole collective, was born. What began in driveways and parking lots eventually grew into a full operation with leagues, regional tournaments and national recognition.

“Our very first league was in the Taylor AC parking lot,” Bates said. “Now we’re running leagues at Kudos Taproom (Taylor), Grizzly’s (Wyandotte), Joe’s Prime Time (Gibraltar). It’s gotten bigger every single year.”

Today, Bates runs a Tuesday night amateur league at Kudos with 56 teams, while his winter leagues regularly draw between 50-80 teams each. Once a side project supported by a day job, cornhole is now his full-time job.

“Cornhole is a mental game,” he said. “The more you play, the better you get. It’s fun, just get out there and throw.”

Bates has served as a director for both the American Cornhole Organization and the American Cornhole League. In 2025, he was ACL’s Regional Director of the Year out of 300 directors nationwide.

“That meant a lot,” he said. “It shows how much this area has grown and how strong our community is.”

He’s watched the game evolve over nearly two decades, especially with the rise of younger players.

“There’s some kids now, 13-16 years old, who are insanely good,” Bates said. “The talent level is unbelievable.”

Mutha Shuckers has also gained attention through its boards and bags. The group’s “313” bags have been featured on ESPN, helping establish its name beyond Michigan.

Still, for Bates, the biggest draw isn’t competition. It’s the people.

“The people are amazing. That’s what keeps me going,” he said. “It’s the social aspect. You meet so many great people doing this.”

Mutha Shuckers hosts the annual cornhole challenge at the Brownstown Summer Festival and does events at the Brownstown Rec Center. He’s also a regular at Champions Sports Grill.

Outside of cornhole, Bates enjoys watching Pistons and Wolverines basketball, supporting his son’s travel basketball team, bass fishing on the Detroit River, and spending time glamping with friends at Jackson’s Greenwood Acres.

“It’s all about family, community and doing what I love,” he said.

From homemade boards to a national powerhouse, Josh Bates has built more than a league. He’s built an entire scene that keeps on growing.