Hired Man’s Grocery & Grill: Keeping Conway Springs Thriving

When the only grocery store in Conway Springs closed its doors in 2007, it left a big gap in the heart of the community. Rather than let their small town go without a place to shop for fresh food, Clint and Jenny Osner — with the help of their extended family — took matters into their own hands. They built Hired Man’s Grocery & Grill, a full-service grocery store designed to help their community thrive once again.

From the start, Hired Man’s became known for its exceptional meat department. Clint, his son, Colby, and his butchering team take great pride in providing fresh, store-ground beef and a wide variety of specialty meat items. Customers come from all over— to stock up on favorites like stuffed and bulk sausages (original, garlic, Italian, and jalapeño), homemade brats in multiple flavors, and specialty burger patties including jalapeño cheddar, garlic, mushroom, and their famous Texas Squeal bacon burger blend.

One of Clint’s creative innovations, the Candy Corn Brat, brought national recognition to Hired Man’s when it earned the Local, Specialty or Emerging Products Award and the Creative Choice Outstanding Merchandiser Award from the National Grocers Association two years ago. What started as a seasonal experiment quickly became an annual customer favorite, proving that a little innovation — and a lot of local pride — can go a long way.

But what truly sets Hired Man’s apart is their dedication to keeping dollars circulating within the community. The store partners with local producers to offer fresh produce, eggs, honey, salsa, mustard, barbecue sauce, and other Kansas-made goods. Jenny explains that this decision is not only about supporting neighbors and keeping local dollars in the community— it’s also what customers want.

Hired Man’s also participates in the Double Up Food Bucks program, which matches SNAP EBT dollars at select grocery stores and farmer’s markets across Kansas. This means customers can get twice the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables — making healthy eating more affordable for all families.  They are also the only grocery store in Kansas to have the Add Milk Program.  When customers buy skim or 1% milk and pay with SNAP EBT dollars, they automatically get those milk products at half price.

What began as a way to fill a need has become a cornerstone of the Conway Springs community. Through hard work, creativity, and a deep commitment to local connections, Clint and Jenny Osner have built more than a grocery store — they’ve built a legacy of community resilience and hometown pride.