FORT ATKINSON, WI (May 18, 2026) — The Matt Steiner Family of Pine-Tree Dairy has been named the 2026 Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder. The National Dairy Shrine awards this honor each year to a progressive dairy breeder, who expertly implements sound genetic and business principles and would be considered one of the “all-time greats” in cattle breeding. Through years of careful and strategic development, the Steiner family has become a leader in dairy genetic thought and technology – a prime candidate for the Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder honor.

Matt and his wife Gail are third-generation owners of Pine-Tree Dairy, located in Sterling, Ohio. Of their 11 children, several sons and daughters-in-law and dozens of grand and great grandchildren, are involved in the operation today. Matt recalls studying bull books, catalogs and breed publications as a child, and making breeding decisions as a young teenager.

His early interest and involvement in the dairy set him up well for future success. Today, Pine-Tree Dairy consists of around 1,400 milking cows, 1,500 heifers and 140 bulls, consisting of the Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss breeds. The combined RHA is 28,658 milk pounds, 4.7% butterfat, 1,344 fat pounds, 3.6% protein, 1,028 protein pounds. With 20-30 animals flushed bi-weekly, the farm produces more than 1,000 embryos per year.

Matt was an early adopter of innovative genetic tools, including IVF/ET, and breeding for components, NM$, SCC, PL, DPR, moderate stature and width, and A2A2. When individual matings were popular, his philosophy was “Under most circumstances, more improvement can be made by using three or four real good sires than individual matings using many sires.” He would search for cows that were genetically high in yield, DPR and PL, and sound conformation that were sired by bulls with the same characteristics. This strategy led to the purchase of Wesswood-HC Rudy Missy-ET, whose contributions to the genetic foundation of modern Holstein breeding have been profound.

When Missy was named Global Cow of the Year in 2014, it was the beginning of an era of well-deserved honors and recognition for Pine-Tree dairy and its animals. By 2025, 48 out of 50 heifers at the World Dairy Expo World Classic Sale could be traced back to the Pine-Tree prefix. The farm’s success spans several breeds, having received awards and recognition from The American Jersey Cattle Association, Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association of the USA, and Holstein International. Locally, Pine-Tree Dairy also earned “Conservation Farm of the Year” from the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District.

“For over four generations, the Steiners’ philosophy to ‘keep things simple’ and rooted in their devout faith, support of family and love of farming, resulted in a success story few have been able to achieve,” says John Burket, President of Holstein Association of America. “The impact Pine Tree Dairy has made in dairy genetics worldwide will influence dairy cattle breeds for generations into the future.”

The Steiner family will be formally recognized at the National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet on Monday, September 28, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. Their portrait will be added to the National Dairy Shrine Dairy Hall of Fame and Museum in Fort Atkinson.