Sue Ann Steele

Sue Ann was born in Adrian, Missouri. On April 27, 1957 she was united in marriage to Ed Steele.  They made their life and home west of Butler, Missouri, on Steele & King dairy farm where she supported the operations while working a full-time job outside the home.  Sue Ann attended University of Missouri for one year and was a lifelong MU fan.

Prior to serving as the Missouri Holstein Executive Director and Editor of the Mid-States Holstein News, she worked for many years at the Bates County Shopper and then the “Headliner”, including being the Sports Director. Sue Ann was synonymous with Missouri Holstein for over 25 years.  Sue Ann served as the Missouri Holstein Executive Director from 1988-2003. She served as the Editor of the Mid-States Holstein News (a multi-state dairy publication) from 1983 until her death in 2022 when she was 84 years old.  Sue worked with Kate Geppert, as the managing editor, for all those years, imparting her wisdom and skill.

Sue served as a National Holstein delegate for Missouri and was so well respected by the breeders of the state that they elected her over and over to represent them at the national level to promote their interest.

For a decade, Sue was integral in keeping the Southern National Show and Sale going in Missouri.  This event required an enormous amount of coordination, sponsors, sale personnel, show personnel and logistics.  Sue Ann also played an integral part of the organization of the National Holstein Convention held in St. Louis, helping to coordinate members, committees and national staff.

Sue Ann was an integral part of their dairy operation, Steele & King Dairy. This partnership was between Sue and husband Ed Steele, and brother Jerry King and wife Jeannette. Later the farm added nephew Rick King to the management team. The farm received the Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder Award in 1995, and the National Progressive Breeder Registry (PBR) award in 1994. Their animals were very successful in the show ring.  Rocket Jess who was Nominated All-American 2-Year-Old bull in 1961 and Stelmo Pamela Patsy Rocket was named Grand Champion at the 1967 Missouri State Fair. They also received the Farm Family award at the 1993 Missouri State Fair.

The Missouri Holstein association honored Sue Ann with their highest honor being awarded with the Missouri Distinguished Service Award in 2019.

Sue Ann was a long-time member of the First Christian Church in Butler where she enjoyed singing in the choir for many years.

Sue and her husband Ed had two daughters: Becky Bauersfeld (partner Phillip Thornton) of Phoenix, Arizona and Brenda (Ted) Chael of Overland Park, Kansas with two grandchildren; Andrew (Laura) Chael of Mission Woods, Kansas and Jordan Chael of Lexington, Kentucky.