Being born into a hunting family Steve was exposed to small game hunting early on by his father and three older brothers. The family excelled in Scouting and being the fourth of the four boys to attain the rank of Eagle Scout Steve attained a sense of service to others and community. An expectation that his father instilled upon all of the boys and gave impetus to Steve to give back which has shaped his Safari Club International and life journey.
In 1977 as a High School Junior he was selected by the Minnesota Chapter of Safari Club International to attend SCI’s American Wilderness Leadership School in Wyoming. The impression left upon him by two of the volunteers of the Safari Club International Conservation Foundation started Skold down a path that has shaped his life as a conservation volunteer and big game hunter. Steve first became a SCI member in 1980 and soon became involved with SCI’s chapter and international governance structure. He has been involved with two of chapters as a board member and officer, served on many of the National SCI and the SCI Foundation committees, and on July 1, 2020 completed his term as SCI President.
While SCI has been Steve’s main volunteer focus over the years, he has been a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, and is a life member of Pheasants Forever and the Wild Sheep Foundation. While working on a committee to get dove hunting legalized in Iowa it became apparent that the state needed a group to represent Iowa Sportsmen and Sportswomen, so Steve and two others started the Iowa Conservation Alliance consisting of 16 conservation organizations.
Serving these multiple organizations over the past 40 years has led Steve to understand the importance of industry relations and recognize that all hunters, fishermen, conservation organizations, and professional associations will need to work together to protect our natural resources and future hunting and fishing opportunities.
When not hunting or traveling to visit his twin 26 year old daughters Steve and his wife Sue run The Skold Companies, four specialty contracting entities providing commercial construction material and installation across nine upper Midwest states. Along with these entities Steve is a partner in a steel fabricating company with his brother -in-law. Although full retirement is yet two years away, capable managers in place for each of the entities allow Steve and Sue to get away from their Des Moines, Iowa home and spend time in Arizona and Minnesota with a few hunting and fishing trips fit in as well.
