SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – At the 32nd Annual Family Business Conference, held April 17 and 18, the Prairie Family Business Association (PFBA) presented the following awards to three family businesses from the Upper Midwest:

The Lloyd All In Award: VanLiere family of Industrial Machine & Engineering (Brookings, S.D.)

The Lloyd All In Award was presented for the second time this year. The Lloyd All In Award was created in honor of Craig and Pat Lloyd’s Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to the couple in 2023. The award is given to a family who goes “all in” on their family business and PFBA, just as the Lloyd family has done. Recipients of the All In Award are willing to learn through PFBA programs, eager to connect with other family businesses, and dedicated to showing up and investing in both their family and their business.

The second-ever Lloyd All In Award is presented to the VanLiere Family of Industrial Machine & Engineering in Brookings, South Dakota. Since joining Prairie Family Business Association three years ago, the VanLiere Family has gone All In. The family participated in their first family business conference in 2021 and has not looked back — as they have proceeded to further their
commitment to their family business with each passing year. Brian and Andrea founded the business in 1996 and are transitioning ownership and leadership to their sons, Tyler and Zach.

At the end of 2023, the VanLieres hosted a signing ceremony as their second generation signed and formalized ownership documents. They have a strong desire to make the business succeed and thrive in the second generation and beyond. In addition, they serve as champions for family business — recently engaging Brian’s sister and her family business, Hartford Building Center, in PFBA programs.

The Heritage Award presented to the Sinclair Family of Montgomery’s.

The purpose of PFBA is to help family businesses thrive through generations. By living out our purpose, each year we present the Heritage Award to a business that is 75 years old or older.

This year’s Heritage Award is presented to the Sinclair Family of Montgomery’s. Montgomery’s was founded in 1888, a year before South Dakota would become a state. The business is currently owned and led by the fourth generation, Clark and Connie Sinclair. Eric and Neala Sinclair are the fifth-generation leaders. The furniture store celebrated 135 years in business in 2023 and has locations in Sioux Falls, Madison and Watertown, SD.

The Vicki Clarke Award: Edney Family of Edney Distributing (Lakeville, M.N.)

The late Vicki Clarke was part of the County Fair Foods family business headquartered in Mitchell, South Dakota. Clarke made a lasting impression on many, especially those within her own family business. The Vicki Clarke Award recognizes a family business that also makes a lasting impression on others through valuable contributions to their community, investing in the wellbeing of their employees, pride of their business, and proven success and growth of the business.

This year’s Vicki Clarke Award is presented to Edney Distributing, a fourth-generation family business headquartered in Lakeville, Minnesota. Edney Distributing is a wholesale distributor of specialized equipment and innovative attachments from manufacturers around the world. Edney’s markets include agriculture, lawn and turf, forestry, and light industrial. Edney Distributing was founded in Huron, South Dakota, in 1951. In 2023, fourth-generation of the Edney Family, Jennifer Edney, transitioned into the CEO role and third-generation Doug Edney transitioned to Chair of the Board.

More than 300 people from 17 states and two countries attended the 32nd Annual Family Business conference in person, and an additional 200 people attended the conference virtually. The 33rd Annual Family Business Conference is scheduled for April 30 and May 1, 2025, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.