KEARNEY, NE – He who hesitates may not have the opportunity to attend the 2010 Cattlemen’s Ball, June 4-5 in Kearney. Ticket sales have surpassed 3,400. At the current pace, organizers believe all tickets could be gone by the end of this week.
“Because we’re providing a sit-down prime rib dinner for all ticket holders, we have to put a limit on the number of tickets we sell,” said Todd Herges of Platte Valley State Bank who serves as ticket co-chairman for the event. “We’re rapidly approaching a sellout.”
“The pace of ticket sales has ramped up dramatically in recent days,” he said. “At this rate, we expect to have all available tickets spoken for in the next week or less.”
Herges said that tickets have been purchased by people from 184 of Nebraska’s 530 communities (35 percent) and 71 of Nebraska’s 93 counties are represented. “This is truly a statewide event,” he said. Tickets also have been sold to people from 12 states other than Nebraska.
Topping the bill for this year’s ball is a performance by country music legend Randy Travis, who will perform on Saturday night
Top Hand tickets are $65 each and provide admission at noon on Saturday and include the Randy Travis concert, prime rib dinner, dance after the concert, free parking and a full afternoon of activities. As of Monday morning, only a few hundred Top Hand tickets remain.
Trail Boss tickets, available at $300 each, include admission to additional events on Friday evening and Saturday morning including a Friday evening reception and Saturday champagne brunch and lunch. As of Monday, less than 100 Trail Boss tickets were available.
This year’s event also includes a progressive trolley tour of Kearney area attractions, airboat tours of the Platte River, a golf tournament, a style show, craft and arts fair, barbecue tasting, microbrew beer tasting, casino, Pony Express delivery, hay rack rides, a wild west show, and a post-concert dance. Some activities are free with admission, while others require an additional fee.
“All the proceeds go toward cancer research and every dollar stays right here in Nebraska,” Herges added.
The Cattlemen’s Ball is hosted by a different Nebraska ranch or feedlot every year. This year’s event is hosted by Lori and Norris Marshall. Its mission is to raise money for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, while showcasing rural Nebraska and promoting beef as part of a healthy diet.
Since its inception, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $3.7 million. In addition to providing funds to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, a portion of the funds is also targeted for local health care organizations.
Event details and tickets are available online at www.cattlemensball.com. Tickets also are available by visiting Platte Valley State Bank in Kearney or calling 308-234-2424.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center — a distinction held by only 65 centers in the country and the only NCI-designated center in Nebraska. The UNMC Eppley Cancer Center is also one of the founding members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the world’s leading cancer centers. This recognition means the most current and innovative treatment options are available to cancer center patients through the integration of cutting-edge research into state-of-the-art care. Cancer center physicians and scientists work together to quickly translate discoveries made in the laboratory into innovative treatments for the patient.