Congratulations to Don Younkin and Sherron Sullivan on being named the 2026 Hooker County Fair King & Queen!
by Sherron Sullivan
As an outsider from Idaho, I came to the Sandhills and Mullen some 50 years ago. As such, I feel very humbled by this honor, mainly because I know that I was welcomed, accepted and encouraged to become part of the community to be a “Sandhiller.”
I was born in 1940 at Cascade, Idaho, a small town at that time, in the mountains. Since my dad was a railroader, we moved a lot. I went to schools in Wyoming, Oregon and Idaho and graduated from high school in Nampa, Idaho.
I’d always wanted to teach, so I went to Lewis and Clark College in Lewiston, Idaho, for my two year teaching certificate.
My first teaching position was in Milwaukie, Oregon, with a class of 24 second grade students. From there I taught a couple of other schools until my marriage to Marvin Cox. We have three boys, Donald “Donnie” and wife Deb, James, and David and wife Beth, and their families.
After three years in the Army, we moved back to the family ranch 27 miles northwest of Mullen. The first year on the ranch the teacher that was hired to teach Calf Creek school left at Christmas. I was asked to finish the school year - what a shock. One room, no running water, an outhouse and eight students of various grades. That year there were two older boys, Bryan Lay and Gary Phipps, that did more teaching than I, as they had to teach the teacher about the stove, water, etc.!
I filled in another year at Calf Creek school and also taught for a full year there.
In 1980 I started teaching first grade at Mullen Elementary. After 23 years, Mr. Mandeville thought I could be promoted to third grade! I taught third grade for three more years before retiring. I was surprised to receive Teacher of the Year from the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association during the 2003-04 school year.
I truly feel blessed that I was able to teach 26 years in the Mullen School system, with faculty and administrators who were friends, as well as peers.
In 1982, I married Don Sullivan, who had four grown children. We also added Tom Reynolds to our family. They graciously accepted me as Don brought me into their lives - David “Dave” and wife Catherine, Mary Ann and her now late husband Marv, Donalee and husband Bill Barner, and Dennis and wife Denise, and their families.
I had many new experiences, riding horses, working with the cattle and many new friends from all over the hills. We traveled to Idaho many times, where we built a cabin for the family to enjoy and went to Germany and Ireland. Don went several times with his children and grandchildren. We both enjoyed driving to places he had built around the hills and remained friends with all of the owners. I still enjoy getting out and driving the hills.
I consider my church family as a part of my life and as such have been able to do Bible studies, be a lay speaker and help where needed. Through the church I belong to Together in Faith and am active in the American Legion Auxiliary.
Because I feel I can walk down the street and say hi or give the one finger wave to almost everyone driving by and drive places in the hills for my rejuvenation, I truly feel and am proud to call myself a Sandhiller.
by Gerri Peterson
Don Younkin grew up 48 miles northwest of Mullen. He attended country school through eighth grade, and then graduated in 1956 from the University Nebraska School of Ag in Curtis.
Don’s dad, George Younkin, was an orphan who came to live with John and Ena Younkin of Mullen at age 9.
Don was drafted by the Army in 1963, serving his country until 1965. He spent 17 months in France as a heavy construction carpenter - pretty much the exact job he told the Army he didn’t want to do.
When Don got back from the service, he worked at his family’s ranch. He married Mary Jane in 1967 and they lived on the Younkin ranch initially. Don and Mary Jane then leased a place east of Seneca for 17 years before going to work for Frank Sexton south of Mullen for 6 years. They then moved into Mullen, renting a house for two years before purchasing the house they have lived in since 1996.
In 1982, Don began selling feed for Moorman Manufacturing Company, then Farmers & Ranchers Co-op and now Central Valley Ag and OSL Tubs.
He worked as the ring man at the Thedford Sale Barn and also the Ericson Sale Barn for several years.
Don and Mary Jane’s family consists of son Todd and wife Steph, son Kevin and wife Becky, daughter Crystal Bickford and husband Steve and daughter Maria Kruse and husband Chad, and their families. Younkins have 10 grandchildren.