The 20th annual Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska just got another country artist — Rodney Atkins.
Atkins is known for hits such as “Watching You,” “If You’re Going Through Hell” and “Farmer’s Daughter.” He will join Eric Paslay and the Emmet Bower Band in the weekend’s lineup.
The Cattlemen’s Ball will be June 2 and 3 at the Lonesome River Ranch near Anselmo, Neb., in Custer County. The event is a fundraiser for cancer research in Nebraska.
The 2017 “4 A Cure” ball will have a weekend filled with events, including a charity auction, dinner, wine and beer tasting, golf tournament, rodeo, art show, style show, culinary show, magician, airboat rides, antique tractor display and music, featuring Paslay and Atkins. It will then wrap up on Saturday night with dancing to the Emmet Bower Band.
This year’s hosts of the Cattlemen’s Ball are Jeff and Lisa Johnson.
Jeff Johnson purchased his father’s ranch after the dispersal of his family’s ranch, Summitcrest, in 2011. In the dispersal sale, he bought a select group of cows as a start-up herd for Lonesome River. He wanted to continue to raise registered Angus cattle and have a group of good bulls to sell every year in a bull sale.
After raising cattle for 25 years for his family’s ranch, he knew it was what he wanted to continue to do at Lonesome River. The Johnsons’ two children, Jesse, 26, and Ethan, 24, also work with them on the ranch.
Jeff’s dad always wanted to host the Cattlemen’s Ball but never got that chance before he passed away from cancer. So when Lonesome River Ranch was asked to host the Cattlemen’s Ball, Jeff knew he couldn’t say no. Jeff and Lisa believe that by hosting this fundraiser they are able to help bring awareness and someday hopefully find a cure for cancer.
The Cattlemen’s Ball helps raise funds for the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC. Since 1997, the balls hosted by farm and ranch families from across Nebraska have raised $13 million for medical research and health care programs.