Vassar to perform at Cattlemen’s Ball near Milford

Organizers and hosts of the 2006 Cattlemen’s Ball recently toured UNMC. From left: Doug Brand, general co-chair, David Dickinson, host family, UNMC’s Charlotte Stalnaker, Bob Dickinson, host family, and UNMC’s Gloria Borgstahl, Ph.D.

Country artist Phil Vassar will perform at the 2006 Cattlemen’s Ball on June 3 near Milford, Neb., approximately 25 miles west of Lincoln. The event will be held at Riverside Park on the Blue River. Bob and Marg Dickinson, owners of Midwest Feeding Company in Milford, are the host family.

Vassar is a contemporary country singer who made his name as a chart-topping songwriter before landing a record deal in 2000. He has written Top 10 hits for Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Jo Dee Messina. Vassar’s own hit songs include “Just Another Day in Paradise” and “Carlene.”

Vassar’s performance will follow an auction with a variety of unique items, including a video spot donated by Nashville video director, Shawn Silva. Additional activities include team roping, virtual hunting, horse drawn wagon rides and a wine tasting event.

Two Seward, Neb. couples – Doug and Gail Brand and Ron and Annette Wallman – are the event co-chairs. Doug Brand said the goal for the 2006 event is to raise $350,000.

UNMC’s Carol Kolar, left, shows a lab to organizers of this year’s Cattlemen’s Ball. From left, are UNMC’s Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., Ron Wallman, DVM, Louis Riha, Shirley Riha and Molly Dickinson. Behind the group is Annette Wallman, left, and Gail Brand.

Over the previous eight years, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $1.4 million for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. The 2005 event sold out several months in advance with 3,339 tickets sold.

With this year’s event held on the Blue River, the theme of the event is “Red, White and Blue River Ball.”

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.

Organizers of this year’s Cattlemen’s Ball viewed DNA microarray slides during their campus tour.

Invitations are not sent, as the event is open to the public. At the 2006 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 1-888-562-3602 or visit the Web site at www.cattlemensball.com.