A sealed bushing arrangement guides an agitator rotor shaft through an aperture located on the bottom surface of a popping bowl in a popcorn popping assembly. The bushing arrangement has a top portion raised above the bottom surface of the bowl, and may include a cover plate for retaining the seal or seals within the bushing and for securely attaching the bushing to the bottom surface of the popping bowl. The bushing further includes a lower bushing for operative association with the rotor shaft. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of stacked seals are provided within the bushing to prevent cooking oil from leaking out of the popping bowl along the agitator rotor shaft. The bushing further preferably includes an inner bushing for operative association with the agitator rotor shaft, a middle bushing, and an outer bushing. The inner and outer bushings are comprised of materials which have an expansion rate characteristic lower than that of the rotor shaft. The middle bushing is attached to the inner bushing by an interference fit. Similarly, the outer bushing is attached to the middle bushing by an interference fit. Support braces are provided for securely attaching the bushing arrangement to the bottom surface of the popping bowl.
