ABOVE: Laykn Sathoff is one of four 4 Under 40 recipients.

FAIRMONT– Lakyn Sathoff’s contributions to the community have earned her a spot on this year’s short 4 Under 40 list. The program honors up and coming leaders in Martin County and is done through Scouting America.

Sathoff was locally born and raised and received her GED in 2012. She briefly went to school for business management before switching gears and starting cosmetology school in 2015 at Minnesota West in Jackson.

Speaking to why she was interested in cosmetology, rather than business, Sathoff said, “everything’s so upbeat. I didn’t like sitting in a classroom in a chair constantly and thought that’s what this job would consist of, office work, which I didn’t want to do.”

Soon after graduating she started working at hair etc. Within her first week of starting, the salon’s owner, Bev Korolewski, passed away in January 2017. Some of the salon’s other staff weren’t interested in taking it over themselves, but they were willing to help Sathoff do it.

“I didn’t think I’d ever have my own business,” she said.

By March of 2017 she had gone through the licensing and capitalized the letters in the title of the business to make it Hair Etc.

“I jumped right in,” Sathoff said with a laugh. “It’s gone very well. We’ve done a lot.”

Initially there were three staff members and now there’s five, soon to be six. Sathoff has hopes to expand sometime in the future either at the current location or by adding a second location somewhere in Martin County.

Through her work at Hair Etc, Sathoff ended up starting a non-profit in 2019. Lakyn’s Care provides wigs for people who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy or illness.

“I had a lot of help from people in our community to file for the 501(c)3 and I sold Hair Etc shirts to pay for the filing fees,” Sathoff said.

She said that local hospitals have her information and can refer patients to her that may be interested in a wig.

“We’ve done lots of wigs. About 30 wigs altogether since 2019,” Sathoff said.“I truly believe in mind over matter sometimes and when you can get your confidence and feel good, it helps give you that push to keep fighting so that’s the whole mission with the non-profit. To help people push through.”

Lakyn’s Care does more than wigs now, too.

“We’ve helped pay for hearing aids for a young child and we did a special carseat for a child with a trach(eostomy) so they didn’t have to pull over as much and it made it safer for them to travel,” she said.

They’ve also provided gas cards and gift cards to people who are traveling for treatment.

In addition to her non-profit, Lakyn’s been involved with Minnesota Valley Action Council (MVAC), first as a mentee herself and then as a mentor. She’s been on the board for a few years and currently serves as vice president.

In 2019, the same year she launched her non-profit, Sathoff received an achiever and supporter award through MVAC and in 2022 she received a state award, the National Sargent Shriver Personal Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals who have changed their lives and embody Community Action’s spirit of hope and are now working to make America a better place.

Sathoff is also an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) with the Truman Ambulance Service and she’s working toward becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

“I’m planning to become a paramedic at some point, too,” she said.

In addition to that, Sathoff picks up shifts at Ambiance on Albion in Fairmont and works as a substitute teacher.

“I always try my hardest to be there for the students. This can either be in the classroom or on the salon floor at the college,” she said.

Sathoff also helps with drug court in the tri county area of Martin, Faribault and Jackson counties.

“In 2024 I went to Capitol Day to talk with Bjorn Olson (state representative) and shared how drug court helped me turn my life around to help keep the program funded,” Sathoff said.

Of course Sathoff also stays busy with her twin girls, who are both involved in sports and other activities.

“A lot of people ask me how I do it and it just all works out,” Sathoff said.

When she learned she had received the 4 Under 40 award, Sathoff said she was honored but also didn’t need the recognition.

“I don’t do anything to get awards,” she said.

Rather, Sathoff prefers to just take action and share her story.

“I believe in people knowing my story so they can become productive members of society and help them and their families see it is possible.”

Sathoff and the others, Kristy Olson, Anna Garbers and Laura Spitzer, will be recognized at an event on March 11 at Best Western in Fairmont. Tickets for the events are on sale at scoutingtwinvalley.org/4under40.