Family Business Connection

Hosted by Prairie Family Business Association

Business Entrepreneurship Management

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Family Business Connection is a Prairie Family Business Association podcast where we lift up the stories behind family businesses who thrive for generations. We explore the topics our family business members request most often: Communication, Culture, Innovation, Leadership, Strategy, and Succession by hearing from the family business leaders who are solving problems day-in and day-out while building a legacy for their businesses and their families.

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28 recent

October 22, 202634 min

Your Legacy, Their Future

Agatha Johnson of WillKate and Kyle Hohn of MDS Manufacturing share the planning, decisions and commitments behind a generational transition. For the next generation of a family business, taking ownership means more than stepping into a new role; It means deciding what to carry forward. Kyle Hohn, a third-generation owner of MDS Manufacturing in Parkston, South Dakota, and Agatha Johnson of WillKate join the show to talk about transitioning a 50-year-old family business. Agatha explains why the conversation should start with a vision for the future, not the technical details. [3:00] Agatha: “We always kind of talk about that 100-year plan, which is only three generations... So we like to have them think broader view, very holistic. We don’t wanna go in technical aspects of anything because at the end of the day, then we get caught in the weeds.” She also makes the case for giving everyone with a stake in the business a voice early. [18:45] Agatha: “We wanna make sure everybody’s voice is heard because everybody has a stake in that, even before they become shareholders. So we always articulate between shareholders and stakeholders, and that everybody... this will impact everybody along the way.” For Kyle, joining the business raised questions about his own readiness to lead. [23:00] Kyle: “What kind of skills do I need to learn in order to become what you guys were, or to help lead the company to where it needs to go for the future, is really a big thing.” He also describes what it takes to keep planning for the future. [29:30] Kyle: “Strategic planning, we’ve been doing that every year since I joined the company full time, and that’s a big feat. It takes a lot of work to work on the business instead of in the business.” Listen in for a conversation about what it takes to prepare the next generation to lead, and why the transition matters more than the succession itself. Links MDS Manufacturing Website WillKate Website Agatha Johnson’s LinkedIn Prairie Family Business Association's (PFBA) Website PFBA's Instagram

October 15, 202626 min

Everyone's in Sales

Rand Wergin and Michael Cuperus of USD's Beacom School of Business on developing the next generation of sales talent through real-world experience. Every family business has an element of sales, whether or not anyone on the team carries that title. Rand Wergin, Associate Professor of Marketing, and Michael Cuperus, Marketing and Sales Instructor, join the show to talk about the new Sales Center at the University of South Dakota's Beacom School of Business, and what it actually takes to develop a great salesperson. Rand lays out what makes sales different from the rest of marketing; it's the one place where a real human connection is essential to the outcome. [3:10] Rand: “What sales does is the face-to-face intimacy of bringing buyers and sellers together. We can talk about advertising and promotions and all those other very visible parts of marketing. But sales has a unique place where a human relationship is essential in that transaction. And that human relationship involves time. It involves trust. And it involves expertise.” Mike makes the case for why that can't be replicated with a video or an online course, no matter how good the content is. [16:37] Mike: “For me, sales training is just all about gaining experience with other people. And you can't do that watching a YouTube video. You can see it. You can hear the words. But you don't internalize anything unless you put yourself in that situation.” Mike also connects the work back to something family businesses already understand instinctively. [22:56] Mike: “Family business is built on relationships, built on repeat business. And that's what we're teaching at its most fundamental level. It's building relationships with customers, with each other, other stakeholders and how to communicate.” And Rand shares what success ultimately looks like for the students coming through the program. [20:35] Rand: “They will learn more in that 10-minute sales call interaction than I can teach them in a classroom in a year. But I'm gonna set the foundation so when they go in there to fight that dragon, they're gonna win.” Listen in for a conversation about developing the people who will one day represent your business in front of a customer, and why that process starts long before day one. Links Rand Wergin's LinkedIn Michael Cuperus's LinkedIn USD Beacom School of Business's Website Prairie Family Business Association's (PFBA) Website PFBA's Instagram

October 8, 202631 min

The First 48 Hours

Brad Mendel of Eide Bailly and Kara Peterson of G&H Distributing on response, recovery, and having the right people already in your corner when the unexpected happens. Brad Mendel of Eide Bailly talks with Kara Peterson, VP of Operations and part-owner of G&H Distributing in Sioux Falls, about the crisis that put her business to the test, and the network of trusted advisors that got her through it. When the moment came, Kara's first call wasn't about fixing a system. It went to her insurance company. [12:39] Kara: "It is amazing what all transpires over a twenty-four to forty-eight hour period of time when you make a claim in the cyberspace to your insurance company."  The conversation also digs into the small-business instinct to leave well enough alone, and how that mindset can quietly leave gaps. [26:05] Kara: "You kind of run into that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' mentality... but having a partner like Eide Bailly telling us we're gonna miss this other little gap is a big piece of that puzzle."  In the end, it wasn't luck that got the business through the crisis, it was the trusted advisors and long-term partners Kara already had in place. [20:53] Kara: "You gotta know who's on your team... you're not building that baseline with getting to know somebody, getting to know their business, and then you're just a number in a book. You're actually a person, a face, a company, a relationship."  Listen in for a practical family-business story about response, recovery, and having the right people already in your corner when the unexpected happens. Links G&H Distributing's Website Kara Peterson's LinkedIn Eide Bailly's Website Brad Mendel's LinkedIn Prairie Family Business Association's (PFBA) Website PFBA's Instagram

October 1, 202623 min

The Cost of Growth

Jason Boutwell of Pro Resources and Jonah Snyder of Pomegranate Market on what growth quietly costs a family business, and how to cover it. Growth doesn't just show up in new locations and rising employee counts. It shows up in what nearly gets left behind along the way. Jason Boutwell of Pro Resources talks with Jonah Snyder, a second-generation leader at Pomegranate Market in Sioux Falls, about what growth actually costs a family business, and how the right kind of help changed the outcome. Jonah shares how his dad started Pomegranate from what he describes as a middle-of-the-night idea, opening Sioux Falls' first organic grocery store years before that way of eating caught on locally. But growth brought its own price: as Pomegranate expanded to a second downtown location, one office manager splitting time between bookkeeping and HR could no longer keep up. [08:08] Jonah: "We either need a full-time HR person. Or we need something else. What we were doing was not going to work." So could a PEO be exactly the kind of help a growing business needs? Jason says it depends on the size of the gap, not just the size of the business. [12:46] Jason: "We're not a fit for everybody... an organization with say 50 employees, God, that's tough. They have the need, but do they have the budget to justify?" Jonah walks through what that partnership has looked like in practice, from streamlined onboarding to benefits guidance that's already saving the business money. [18:11] Jonah: "You don't often get to save money and provide better service to your people, but I feel like we've accomplished both of those." Jonah also shares how a family mission, carried across generations, gave his family a roadmap for making the shift between the two feel like a real plan instead of guesswork. Listen in for a good look at what growth really costs a family business, and what it takes to keep growing without losing sight of why it started. Links Pomegranate Market's Website Jonah Snyder's LinkedIn Pro Resources' Website Jason Boutwell's LinkedIn Prairie Family Business Association’s (PFBA) Website PFBA’s Instagram

September 24, 202624 min

The Stuff AI Just Can't Replicate

Jenny Weg of 9 Clouds and Kris Kluver of Therm Dynamics talk AI, trust, and the relationships a family business can't afford to automate Bringing AI into any business is easy to overcomplicate, and even easier to lose that personal touch. Jenny Weg of Nine Clouds talks with Kris Kluver of Therm Dynamics and host Eric Erickson about how a thirty-year-old, family-owned heater manufacturer in Tea, South Dakota is bringing AI into the business without losing the relationships that built it. Jenny and Kris met through the Prairie Family Business Association, and that connection shaped how Therm Dynamics approaches new technology: quickly, and on its own terms. As Kris puts it, family businesses can make a call, like switching marketing partners, without approval from a board or, in his words, “an act of Congress.” [07:44] Kris: "We call it tribal knowledge here... so much of that knowledge is stored in people's brains, that experience." That tribal knowledge is exactly what Kris is protective of. Therm Dynamics uses AI to organize and summarize scattered information but draws a hard line at decision-making and that line looks different depending on the generation. [11:49] Jenny: "The strongest marketing materials that a family business has that AI cannot replicate is just your founder's story, lessons you've learned through generations.” [20:49] Jenny: "The businesses that will succeed in this AI world are not going to be the ones who automated everything. It's gonna be the ones where they say, 'Okay, technology adds value here,' but the relationship, the conversation, the decades of experience from generations past, that's gonna still matter more overall." Listen in for a candid conversation on where AI earns its place, where it needs boundaries, and why trust is still the thing every family business is really building. Links 9 Clouds' Website Jenny Weg's LinkedIn Therm Dynamics' Website Kris Kluver's LinkedIn  Prairie Family Business Association’s (PFBA) ⁠Website⁠ PFBA’s ⁠Instagram⁠

September 17, 202628 min

People Build Legacies, Not Businesses

Dawn Amend and Ashley Ficken of Runza share how family trust, humor, and values built an 80-year Nebraska legacy, now in its 4th generation. Deciding to finally sit down and capture your family's story can feel overdue and overwhelming all at once. What do we even remember? What matters? What if we wait too long? Dawn Amend and her daughter Ashley Ficken talk with Melissa Parks and Dave Goetz of Journey Sixty6 about preserving four generations of family history behind Runza, the Nebraska-born sandwich chain their grandmother trademarked in 1949. Dawn and Ashley share that founder Don Everett Sr. led with charisma, as much as strategy, building Runza's game-day business from a single converted mail truck and later opening a Rock 'n' Roll–themed restaurant with roller-skating servers & Elvis impersonators. Dawn describes him as "super social" and "uber creative," the kind of leader whose can-do attitude became the foundation for the company's five guiding values: common sense, can-do, charisma, compassion, and care. [0:03] Dawn: "One night she was asleep in the back of the motorhome. I was asleep and she woke up to my dad laying beside her. And she was like, who's driving? And it was my sister with my brother in the passenger seat."That same spirit carried into the business, where titles never mattered as much as showing up for each other. [22:54] Ashley: "I would say every family should capture their family history story because people build those legacies. Businesses don't. These legacies and these histories and stories are important and essential to hear because of the people that make them." Preserving a family story ultimately means making time before the memories are gone. Listen in for a candid look at family harmony, humor, and what it takes to write it all down. Links Runza’s Website Dawn Amend’s LinkedIn Ashley Ficken's LinkedIn Journey Sixty6's Website Melissa Parks' LinkedIn Dave Goetz's LinkedIn Prairie Family Business Association’s (PFBA) Website PFBA’s Instagram

September 3, 20261 min

Family Business Connection Season 3: COMING SOON!

Season 3 of Family Business Connection is coming soon! Join host Eric Erickson as he shares stories from family business owners and next-gen leaders navigating the challenges of working with family—while building lasting legacies. Whether you're a business owner, successor, or advisor, you'll find ideas and inspiration to strengthen both your family and your enterprise. Season 03 launches on Thursday, September 17th. Follow Family Business Connection so you never miss an episode!

December 3, 202543 min

The Move That Doubled the Business | Adam & Brenda Weatherby of Weatherby, Inc.

Adam and Brenda Weatherby of Weatherby Inc. share the risks of relocation, generational leadership lessons, and building a resilient culture. Third-generation leaders Adam and Brenda Weatherby share the remarkable 80-year story of Weatherby, Inc., America’s iconic firearms and ammunition brand. Founded in 1945 by Adam’s grandfather, the company began in a California garage before growing into a premium global brand. By 2016, California regulations forced a hard question: could Weatherby survive there long-term? The couple ultimately made the decision to relocate the entire company to Sheridan, Wyoming. That transition brought what Adam describes as a “near-death” experience as a business: [Adam 00:10:46] “It felt like a 75-year-old startup. The brand was there. The recognition was around the world. We had the products, but we literally had to start from scratch.” Yet the move sparked reinvention. Within three years, Weatherby doubled in size and rebuilt its culture from the ground up. Adam and Brenda reflect that authenticity and being intentional about which “hat” you’re wearing were key to solidifying a strong culture. [Brenda 00:24:41] “I can act as owner, or I can act as manager of people and culture. . . . Knowing when I'm acting as one or the other is really important.” Adam stresses that risk in leadership is an opportunity for courage: [00:28:28] “Where there’s an element of risk, then there’s an element of trust—both in each other and, as people of faith, in God. . . . We have to hold our family business with open hands, not clenched.” Listen in for candid insight into resilience, culture building, and leading a legacy business through transformative change. Links Weatherby, Inc.’s website Adam Weatherby’s LinkedIn Brenda Weatherby’s Linkedin Prairie Family Business Association’s website

November 12, 202532 min

First-Generation Farmers, Building from Scratch | Grant & Spencer Hilbert of Hilbert Farms

Brothers Grant and Spencer Hilbert share how they built Hilbert Farms from scratch, combining grit, YouTube success, and first-generation determination. Grant and Spencer Hilbert are the founders of Hilbert Farms, a first-generation family farm in Central Iowa. But unlike most farming stories, theirs didn’t start on a tractor; it started in the suburbs. Growing up far from their grandparents’ farm, the brothers found their own way into agriculture, using digital tools, hard work, and a shared vision to build something from the ground up. Their entrepreneurial journey began young, mowing lawns and flipping products online before launching YouTube channels that captured their passion for farming. Grant’s early gaming content evolved into an audience of over a million subscribers, eventually funding real equipment, real land, and real crops. [00:15:00] “If there’s ever been a fight in the past 10 or 15 years, it hasn’t lasted more than an hour… that makes it easy when you’re in business together.” Today, the brothers split responsibilities—Grant leads R&D and the American Farming app, while Spencer manages content creation and the farm’s growing YouTube presence. Both credit their parents for instilling discipline, transparency, and financial responsibility from an early age. [00:27:00] “There would’ve been no way to start without outside income. We saved, invested, and built our way into farming.” From their first paycheck to their first harvest, Grant and Spencer prove that legacy isn’t something you inherit—it’s something you build. Their story shows what’s possible when family, innovation, and hard work come together, one field—and one idea—at a time. Links Grant Hilbert | YouTube Spencer Hilbert | YouTube Hilbert Farms’ Instagram American Farming Game Prairie Family Business Association’s (PFBA) Website PFBA’s Instagram

October 22, 202523 min

Sibling Strength & Second Generation Growth | Ben Soles & Brandee Poland of Soles Enterprises

Ben Soles and Brandee Poland share lessons on leadership, family dynamics, and growing a next-gen business through honesty and shared purpose. Ben Soles and Brandee Poland, second-generation siblings of Soles Enterprises, share how their family business has grown through courage, communication, and collaboration. Founded in 2007 by their parents, the company manufactures tarps for grain elevators and agricultural storage facilities across the Midwest. What began as a father-and-son venture evolved into a multigenerational enterprise, but not without challenges. When differing visions created tension between Ben and his father, they sought outside facilitation through the Prairie Family Business Association, where open dialogue and counseling helped redefine goals and relationships. [00:18:52] “It’s not about you or your feelings—it’s about what’s best for the company.” Once we realized that we were after kind of different things… my dad had set up a really good company and realized that it met what he wanted to do. Today, Ben focuses on R&D and product innovation, while Brandee leads sales and marketing. Together, they’ve guided Soles Enterprises through leadership transition, added non-family management to strengthen operations, and clarified ownership and governance as their parents stepped back. [00:20:00] “To be open and willing to say somebody else may have better answers for us — that’s really been beneficial for our family.” Their story highlights how clarity of roles, willingness to seek help, and shared purpose can transform family tension into teamwork. As they look ahead to a third generation, Ben and Brandee remind listeners that family business is both a challenge and a blessing—one that’s worth the work. Links Ben Soles | LinkedIn Brandee Poland | LinkedIn Soles Enterprises Website Prairie Family Business Association’s (PFBA) Website PFBA’s Instagram