The country rock group Sawyer Brown will be featured at the 2005 Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska on Saturday, June 4, at the Herb Albers Feedlot six miles north of Wisner, Neb. The Cattlemen’s Ball is the premier fund-raising event for cancer research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Eppley Cancer Center.
Sawyer Brown is one of the rare acts to actually achieve stardom after winning the grand prize on Star Search, a television show featuring live talent competitions from 1983 through 1995 on CBS. The group’s list of hit songs includes: “The Race is On;” “The Walk;” “Some Girls Do;” and “The Dirt Road.” With more than 3,000 live shows, 13 gold and platinum albums in the U.S. and Canada, and 19 Top 5 singles, the band continues to entertain with its energetic music.
Wade Horton, president of the Cattlemen’s Ball Advisory Board, said it is likely the 2005 ball will be a sellout.
“With a band of this caliber we anticipate ticket sales will go very fast,” Horton said. “Coupled with the enthusiasm and organization of the local planning committee in the Wisner area, we will surely reach our goal of a sold-out ball.”
The Albers Feedlot is located north of Wisner, Neb., about 85 miles from Omaha. Diagnosed just over two years ago with a type of leukemia, Herb Albers is a cancer survivor. Albers said he and his wife, Kathy, are honored to host the ball.
“Our lives have been touched by cancer,” Albers said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to help in the fight against cancer, while also bringing a great event to Northeast Nebraska.”
The 2005 Cattlemen’s Ball will be the first one held in the northeast corner of the state.
Additional event activities include: a tour of the Albers Feedlot, live and silent auctions, pre-ball golf scramble, car or truck raffle, style show, quilt show, clay shoot, horse whisperer, working dog show, wine tasting, civil war reenactment, and a tractor promenade.
Staff members from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, along with the help of nurses from The Nebraska Medical Center and the UNMC College of Nursing, also will provide free screenings for prostate and skin cancer.
Over the past seven years, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $880,000 for cancer research in Nebraska. The 2004 Cattlemen’s Ball, which was held at the Upper 84 Ranch of Jay Novacek near Brady, Neb., raised a total of $174,000 for cutting-edge research.
The Cattlemen’s Ball is held each year to showcase rural Nebraska, promote beef in a healthy diet and raise money for health care research. The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center in Omaha 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.
Invitations are not sent as the event is open to the public. For the 2005 Cattlemen’s Ball, Top Hand ticket holders ($65) may attend the Saturday afternoon and evening activities beginning at 1 p.m. Trail boss ticket holders ($300) receive a champagne reception, commemorative gift, Trail boss brunch and preferred seating for the evening dinner and concert. Tickets are limited. For tickets or information, call 1-888-474-4261 or visit the Web site at www.cattlemensball.com.