By BARBARA PROFFITT | March 22, 2023

At the end of February, Regena and Loren Lance, owners of the Mildred Store in Mildred, Kan., just south of the Linn County’s southwestern corner, traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., to be presented with a national award by Progressive Grocer.

The award was for being one of the top 25 outstanding independent grocers in the United States and, according to Regena, the experience was a once in a lifetime event.

The Mildred Store was founded by Charlie and Lucille Brown 107 years ago and was originally known as Charlie Brown’s. Regena and Loren purchased the store in 2014 and it then became the Mildred Store.

“When I first got the notification we had won I thought it was a hoax and threw it all away,” said Regena; “then I got a request for our logo and who would be accepting the award, and I thought I better take a closer look at it all.”

Once she had assured herself it was real , Regena began reaching out to her community through Network Kansas and the Rural Grocers Community out of K-State for directions and each one pitched in to help get the Lance’s to La Vegas and cover the cost of the convention.