The Monument Builders of North America recently presented its 2026 Excellence in Design Award to Harrison Monuments, Quincy, Illinois, for the “Hardisty Track Monument,” a memorial created to celebrate the life, personality, and interests of Lane Hardisty, Bushnell, Illinois.
The monument was recognized during MBUniversity in Fort Worth, Texas and also featured on an episode of MBNA’s Monument Matters podcast. The MBNA Design Awards recognize excellence in memorial art, design innovation, craftsmanship, and meaningful storytelling through permanent memorialization.
Created from jet black granite sourced by Salem Stones, Obetz, Ohio, the memorial incorporates several custom elements inspired by motocross racing. The design features an etched image of Lane riding his dirt bike mid-air, sculpted granite elements resembling dirt track terrain, and boulder-like granite vases integrated into the structure. The reverse side of the memorial includes a collage of etched images reflecting important moments and themes from his life.
According to the project team at Harrison Monuments, the family wanted the memorial to reflect Lane’s love of motorsports in a deeply personal and meaningful way. The design team worked to create a monument that felt less like a traditional memorial and more like a lasting tribute to who he was as a person. “We were really excited to be able to work on it with his mom and honor his legacy with it,” said Levi Buckman and Kody Knoche of Harrison Monuments.
The project also required innovative production techniques, including laser etching across multiple surface depths and fabricating curved granite components designed to resemble the contours of a motocross track. “The monument stood out for its innovative design, technical execution, and deeply personal storytelling,” said Monument Matters host Mike Johns, Jr., CM, AICA, Johns Carabelli & Semerano Cemetery Memorials & Flowers, during the episode discussing the project.
Consumers interested in learning more about memorialization, viewing award-winning monument designs, or finding a trusted monument professional can visit search.monumentbuilders.org. The online directory connects families with members of the Monument Builders of North America, who are committed to quality craftsmanship, professional standards, and meaningful memorialization.
About Monument Builders of North America
Monument Builders of North America is a trade association founded in 1906. Members include businesses around the globe that sell memorials to the public, quarries supplying raw materials, and support the monument industry with services and products. MBNA members agree to adhere to a Code of Good Practice. Learn more at http://www.monumentbuilders.org.
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