Tickets are going fast for the 18th annual Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska to be held June 5-6 at the Redbird Ranch near Lynch, Neb. This year’s ball will be hosted by the Tom Herzog and Kim Schweers family.
“We are very pleased with ticket sales,” said Deb Hilker, who lives in O’Neill, Neb., and is one of the five co-chairs for the event. “The event is 98 percent sold out.”
The event’s theme, “Outlaw Cancer,” will bring out the local history of the area. In the days of the Old West, many outlaws, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, and con men including legendary outlaws Doc Middleton and Kid Wade frequented what is now the Outlaw Trail.
Today’s Outlaw Trail is Highway 12, paralleling the Niobrara River, which provides a beautiful setting for the ball. The ranch operations include a herd of registered Texas Longhorn cattle.
Three country music entertainers — Aaron Tippin, Sammy Kershaw and Darryl Worley — will headline this year’s ball. Together, they share a combined 73 top country singles.
The two days include a variety of events including a golf tournament, art show, wine tasting, live and silent auctions, style show, a general store, airboat rides, helicopter rides, and a Native American powwow.
Nebraska beef will be highlighted at several events such as the Trail Boss Social, a private Champagne Reception, the Trail Boss Brunch and the Saturday evening dinner.
The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska, Inc. is established to promote beef in a healthy diet, to showcase rural Nebraska and to raise money for health care research.
To date, the event has raised more than $10 million for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, which is located on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus
As in past years, 10 percent of funds raised will go toward local health care organizations in the communities that host the ball.
In addition to Hilker, other co-chairs and their hometowns include: Stephanie Boettcher, Spencer, Neb.; Kelly Kalkowski, Lynch, Neb.; Scott Poese, and Nicole Sedlacek, both of O’Neill.