Owens Country Sausage began in 1928 when C.B. (Clifton B.) Owens started making sausage in his North Texas farmhouse kitchen. His closely guarded family recipe—featuring a balanced blend of spices with distinctive herbaceous notes—helped the business expand rapidly.
By 1933, Owens secured wholesale distribution, eventually growing across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The brand joined Bob Evans Farms in 1987 but maintained its authentic Texas breakfast heritage. The story behind this iconic sausage reveals much more than just breakfast.
Farmhouse Beginnings: How Clifford Owens Created a Texas Legacy
Three generations of Texans have awakened to the distinctive aroma of Owens Country Sausage, a legacy that began with C.B. Owens in 1928. Growing up on a Texas farm, Owens transformed his culinary heritage into a business when he launched a part-time sausage delivery service from his family property.
His production techniques started simply—crafting batches in his farmhouse kitchen using a secret family recipe that emphasized bold, farm-fresh flavors. Owens’ marketing strategy initially relied on word-of-mouth among friends and family before securing his first wholesale account with Wyatt Stores in 1933.
This humble operation, built on quality and authenticity, gradually expanded across Texas and into neighboring Oklahoma and Louisiana by 1946. While Elgin remains the Sausage Capital of Texas with its renowned markets and festivals, Owens created his own notable chapter in Texas sausage history.
The company would later become part of the Bob Evans Farms family when it was purchased in 1987, bringing the distinctive Texas flavors to a wider audience.
From Family Kitchen to Regional Icon: The Early Growth Years
Four determined brothers joined forces with C.B. Owens to transform their homemade sausage operation into a thriving regional business. What began as casual sales to family and friends quickly evolved when they secured their first wholesale distribution account with Wyatt Stores in 1933.
This pivotal moment sparked remarkable growth. By 1946, you’d find Owens sausage throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Their retail expansion included opening a dedicated butcher shop that doubled as their first formal processing plant. As demand increased, they shifted from part-time home production to a full-scale manufacturing facility.
The company’s early home-delivery service strategically morphed into a structured wholesale business, allowing the Owens brothers to extend their reach far beyond their farm’s boundaries. The foundation of their success was built on a secret family recipe that C.B. Owens originally crafted in his farmhouse kitchen in 1928.
Much like Lawrence Shipley Sr.’s gourmet recipe for doughnuts, Owens’ creation would become a beloved Texas institution.
The Secret Recipe That Captured the Southwest
The legendary secret recipe behind Owens Country Sausage has captivated Southwestern taste buds for nearly a century. C.B. Owens’ signature blend of salt, black pepper, sage, thyme, and natural flavorings created a perfect balance that’s neither too salty nor overwhelming.
Through careful recipe-preservation techniques, the family maintained the authentic Southwest-inspired profile while adapting minimally for modern standards. You’ll taste the difference in every bite—premium pork cuts mixed with hand-selected spices, creating that distinctive savory-spicy character with herbaceous undertones. Many home cooks try to replicate this flavor by incorporating poultry seasoning in their homemade versions.
Like the 23 flavors in Dr Pepper that created a unique taste sensation in 1885, Owens’ special blend became instantly recognizable to loyal customers.
The multi-generational family impact extends beyond business success; Owens sausage has become cultural food heritage, embodying Texas breakfast traditions. Whether in casseroles, breakfast burritos, or alongside eggs, this coarse-ground treasure continues to deliver the same farm-fresh quality that made it a regional icon.
A Family Affair: How the Owens Dynasty Built Their Sausage Empire
From humble beginnings in a Richardson farmhouse kitchen, C.B. Owens built what would become one of the Southwest’s most beloved sausage empires by the late 1920s. The business quickly expanded beyond family and friends, securing its first wholesale account with Wyatt Stores in 1933.
The Owens family’s multi-generational leadership approach prioritized employee morale while maintaining their commitment to quality and community values. Jerry Owens, born in 1933, rose to company leadership, focusing on financial stability and nurturing workplace relationships. Their acquisition by Bob Evans Farms created a powerful partnership that paired a leading retail sausage brand with a family-restaurant operator.
Their thoughtful succession planning guaranteed the company’s growth throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana by 1946. Even after Bob Evans Farms acquired the company in 1987, Stewart K. Owens continued the family legacy in senior leadership, later serving as a top executive at the parent company in the late 1990s/2000.
Spring Creek Farm: The Heartland of Owens Country Sausage
While the Owens family guided the company’s growth across multiple states, Spring Creek Farm remained their cherished anchor—a place where the sausage empire’s heart and soul truly resided. Nestled on 27 acres in Richardson near North Central Expressway, the iconic white-and-red buildings became synonymous with Texas breakfast tradition.
For over 80 years, the farm fostered deep community nostalgia through:
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Family-friendly seasonal tours showcasing sausage production
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Beloved holiday events and hayrides that connected generations
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Educational activities introducing visitors to heritage farming
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A petting zoo that delighted children throughout the region
Though production ceased in 2003 after years under Bob Evans, the farm’s architectural preservation remains a priority; the property was sold in 2017 for redevelopment with historic elements in mind—ensuring this landmark’s legacy continues within Richardson’s evolving landscape.
Beyond Breakfast: How Owens Expanded Their Culinary Footprint
Four decades after establishing itself as a breakfast staple, Owens Country Sausage began transforming into a diverse culinary enterprise that reached far beyond the morning meal. Following Bob Evans Farms’ acquisition in 1987, Owens leveraged its new parent company’s resources to dramatically expand its diversified product portfolio.
The company’s development of fully cooked links and convenient heat-and-eat items catered to consumers seeking on-the-go eating experiences as lifestyles evolved. Investment in production facilities—such as Sulphur Springs, Texas—underscored continued commitment to capacity and quality.
You’ll find their innovation reflected in products like bratwurst, Italian dinner links, and lower-fat Country Lite options.
This expansion wasn’t limited geographically either. From its Texas roots, Owens pushed into Oklahoma and Louisiana by 1946, then nationwide after joining Bob Evans, adapting offerings to regional tastes while maintaining the quality that made the brand a household name.
The Restaurant Experience: When Owens Brought Farm to Table
Beyond expanding their product line, Owens Country Sausage created a more immersive brand experience by establishing Owens Family Restaurants across Texas. These dining establishments embodied a home-style approach that echoed the brand identity, emphasizing quality ingredients in every dish.
When visiting an Owens restaurant, you’d experience:
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Traditional homestyle cooking featuring their signature country sausage
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A rustic atmosphere evoking Texas’s rural heritage
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Menu items crafted to showcase fresh, locally-inspired dishes
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Visible ties to the Owens brand’s production heritage
The restaurant chapter ended with abrupt closures in January 2006, when Bob Evans Farms shuttered the remaining Texas locations. Despite mid-day closures, the beloved sausage production continued in Sulphur Springs. The properties were subsequently sold for redevelopment by retail-focused investors.
Joining Forces With Bob Evans: a New Chapter in Sausage History
The year 1987 marked a pivotal turning point for Owens Country Sausage when Bob Evans Farms acquired the Texas-based company in a stock transaction valued at nearly $16 million. This strategic move expanded Bob Evans’ market presence into the Southwest while maintaining the respected Owens brand Texans had trusted since 1928.
You’ll recognize the strategic brand synergies that emerged following the acquisition. By 1993, Bob Evans had opened multiple Owens Family Restaurants in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, blending an established restaurant concept with Owens’ local reputation.
The partnership allowed both companies to leverage their strengths—Owens’ regional popularity and Bob Evans’ corporate systems—creating a stronger national footprint in restaurant operations and packaged sausage products. In 2017, Post Holdings acquired Bob Evans Farms for about $1.5 billion, further expanding the portfolio of these iconic food brands.
Preserving Tradition Through Corporate Evolution
While the Bob Evans acquisition brought new corporate structure to Owens Country Sausage, maintaining the authentic Texas flavor and heritage became both a challenge and an opportunity. You can still taste that bold, farm-inspired seasoning that made the brand famous since 1928, despite significant operational changes.
The evolution balanced corporate growth with tradition through:
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Continued production of family recipes despite closing the iconic Spring Creek Farm facility in 2003
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Retention of regional Texas identity within a national distribution framework
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Ongoing preservation efforts around the historic Richardson property
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Community partnerships that honored the Owens legacy, including civic recognitions for family leaders
This careful navigation helped preserve the authentic taste you’ve enjoyed for generations while expanding market reach. The company’s commitment to quality dates back to when C.B. Owens started his part-time delivery business that would eventually become a household name throughout Texas.
The Lasting Cultural Impact of a Texas Breakfast Staple
Deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Texas communities for nearly a century, Owens Country Sausage has transcended its status as merely a breakfast food to become an authentic symbol of regional identity. The brand’s presence at family tables and local diners has strengthened regional food traditions, allowing Texans to maintain control over their distinctive breakfast culture despite national homogenization.
Through community-based food networks, Owens helped standardize what we now recognize as the quintessential Texas breakfast—bold, hearty, and unapologetically flavorful. Its economic impact extended beyond employment, fostering connections between local farmers and consumers.
Much like the way Elgin earned its designation as the Sausage Capital of Texas in 1995, Owens has carved out its own place in the state’s culinary identity. By preserving traditional recipes and production methods, Owens Country Sausage continues to serve as a tangible link between Texas’s rural culinary heritage and contemporary breakfast culture.
