Sue Conley facts for kids
Sue Conley is a famous American businessperson. She is best known for starting Cowgirl Creamery with her friend, Peggy Smith. They helped create the artisan cheese industry in Northern California.
In 2006, Sue and Peggy won a special James Beard award. This award recognized their important work in the food and drink world for over ten years.
Early Life and Education
Sue Conley was born in Washington, D.C.. Her grandfather managed a cafeteria called Sholl's Colonial there. She went to the University of Tennessee, where she met Peggy Smith.
Starting a Food Business
In 1976, Sue moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. She worked in different restaurants. Later, she helped start a restaurant called Bette's Oceanview Diner.
After selling her part of the diner, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith started new companies. They created Tomales Bay Foods. This company helped sell and market foods made in West Marin.
Creating Cowgirl Creamery
Sue and Peggy also started Cowgirl Creamery. This company makes and sells special, handmade cheeses. Sue says that traveling in Europe and Peggy's work at Chez Panisse made them interested in local, handmade food.
They wanted to show off the great organic milk from Albert Straus at Straus Family Creamery. Sue explained, "We saw the need to showcase great quality organic milk." They also wanted to help local farms stay in business.
Sue Conley is part of the California Artisan Cheese Guild. This group supports cheesemakers in California. She also wrote a cookbook called Cowgirl Creamery Cooks with Peggy Smith.
In 2016, Sue Conley and Peggy Smith sold Cowgirl Creamery. It was bought by Emmi, a large dairy company from Switzerland.
