Nearly 3,000 people basked in the wind-swept heat of eastern Nebraska’s rolling hills on Saturday, in an effort to promote beef in a healthy diet and raise money for cancer research.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is the primary recipient of this fund-raising effort, with 90 percent of the proceeds going toward cancer research programs at Eppley. The remaining 10 percent of the funds raised stay in the local area and are used for health care activities. Organizers hoped to raise $200,000 for cancer research with this year’s ball.
The 2002 Cattlemen’s Ball was nearly sold-out, with the 500 “trail boss” tickets all sold and the $60 “top hand” tickets nearly gone by the end of the day. Those who attended the ball had plenty of activities from which to choose, including a fashion show, team penning, a surrey ride, a silent auction and cowboy poetry.
In all, 17 tents for the ball graced the pastures of the Benes Cattle Company, near Valparaiso. The tent in which the evening meal and entertainment took place covered an acre.
The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party Tour, a package concert tour presenting three country music artists, performed at the ball’s evening concert. Staff members from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, with the help of nurses from Nebraska Health System and the UNMC College of Nursing, provided free screening for prostate and skin cancer throughout the day.
The hosts of the 2002 Cattlemen’s Ball were Ermin and Delores Benes, Dan and Kathy Benes and their families. Chairpersons for the 2002 event were Dr. Elliott and Lynne Rustad of Lincoln. 
The next Cattlemen’s Ball will be in 2004 near Brady, Neb., about 20 miles east of North Platte.
Photos in descending order: 1) Enjoying the Cattlemen’s Ball festivities were JoAnn Nekuda; her daughter, Jayme Nekuda, manager of Health Promotion at UNMC; Keith Swarts, director of UNMC Business Services; Barbara Schaefer; and her husband, Ron Schaefer, director of UNMC Facilities Planning and Construction; 2)
State Sen. Curt Bromm, left, and his two teammates won the celebrity team penning championship after “cutting” three selected calves, then herding them into a pen. Bromm and his teammates completed the challenge in 72 seconds; 3) Carriage rides were a popular attraction at the ball; 4) Attending the ball were, from left, University of Nebraska President L. Dennis Smith, Ph.D.; his wife, Suzanne; Janice Blank; and her husband, NU Regent Don Blank, D.D.S.