Congratulations to the 2024 Hooker County Fair King and Queen - Gregg and Dawn Mallory!
by Dawn Mallory
Gregg is a native Nebraskan, being born in Valentine and spending his early years in the Mullen area as his parents worked for local ranchers. The family moved to the Loveland, Colorado, area where he graduated high school. All through high school he would come back during summers and work for his Aunt Barb and Uncle Bernard Stichka on the ranch.
He returned to Mullen to work on ranches upon graduation and married Sherry Knuth from Valentine. Their children started school at Mullen, then he left to work as a guide/ packer/instructor at a hunting ranch in Montana. Sherry became ill and he moved near family in Washington state for a short time.
After losing Sherry to cancer, he met and married Dawn and together they moved to a farm in Minnesota. While there raising their seven children, they were very active with county fair, serving as board members for years and 4-H leaders. They ran a farm, which included raising show hogs and all the children showed multiple animals through 4-H, showing at the Minnesota State Fair 10 years in a row. The youngest daughter, Bekah, went on to show at the International Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, for three years.
In 2008 Gregg returned to the Mullen area to help on the Stichka ranch, deciding to stay here. Bekah came and started school in Mullen as an eighth grader, then eventually Dawn came in 2010.
Since being here Gregg has worked at the Big Creek Ranch, Nebraska Department of Roads and ran the Chuckwagon ‘n Jug. Believing strongly in community involvement, he has been on the Hooker County Fair Board, a TeamMates mentor, the Mullen Commercial Club, Lions Club, an ambulance driver, worked with the Polar Bear Tank Race and the Sandhills Sharptail Shootout, was on the Methodist Church Council and has catered many local events.
Dawn was born and grew up in Wisconsin, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and moved to Washington state to work neuro/trauma. While there she joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves and served six years as a flight nurse, being called to active duty for Desert Storm.
She also served as a Minnesota synod rep for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synold, visiting India and England.
She began foster parenting in her previous marriage and when she lost him, she met Gregg and they continued to foster, taking in a total of seven foster children throughout the years.
While living in Minnesota, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Minnesota State University Moorhead in Faith Based Nursing. She became a nursing instructor and taught nursing for 25 years at all levels - CNA through MSN.
Since coming to Nebraska, she has been the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home Administrator, taught nursing for Mid-Plains Community College, worked as a Hospice/ Home Health Nurse and Clinic nurse here in Mullen, has assisted in health education classes at the high school, taught Nursing Assistant classes here in Mullen, ran foot clinics in the area three counties and participated in Melodramas and Book Club. She currently serves as the Post Adjutant for the local American Legion Post 109, pulpit supports and leads Junior High youth group at Mullen Methodist, and works with local law enforcement as a regional blood collection specialist.
Together Gregg and Dawn continue to serve as beverage bar caterers for the area.
Their 8 children, 21 grandchildren and 7 foster kids live in 4 different states and they enjoy visiting and catching up with them all.
Both Gregg and Dawn feel very honored to be a part of such an engaging strong community and to serve as this years’ King and Queen of the fair.