The 2017 Cattlemen’s Ball at the Lonesome River Ranch in Custer County raised nearly $1 million for the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine as well as local organizations.
As is tradition, 90 percent of the proceeds went to cancer research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center with the remaining 10 percent going to meet local health care needs.
A check for $904,000 was presented to Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Buffett Cancer Center, on Sept. 23. Local organizations received $90,300.
“The money we raised came from everybody,” said Lisa Johnson of the Lonesome River Ranch. Johnson, along with her husband Jeff, oversaw the conversion of their ranch on the Middle Loup River into a small town for the three-day event June 1-3. “We really want to thank everybody – especially those who stepped up and said this was possible.”
Johnson added extra thanks to the co-chairs of the event – Karen and Jeff Evans, Cindy and Jim
Dr. Cowan was thrilled with the success of this year’s ball.
“Custer County is out in the Sandhills of West Central Nebraska. It is pretty sparsely populated,” he said. “To generate this kind of response, it takes all hands on deck. Over 8 percent of the population of Custer County volunteered at this year’s event. The generosity of these people is almost beyond belief.
“I can’t thank them enough for their incredible donation to our cancer center. But, nothing surprises me with the Cattlemen’s Ball. Every year, they answer the bell and come through with a major donation. What an event!”
The 2018 Cattlemen’s Ball will be June 1-2 at the Hergott Farm near Hebron, Neb.
Many local needs met
Of the local money, $28,000 was awarded to Jennie M. Melham Medical Center in Broken Bow to help purchase a 3-D mammography system. The Callaway Foundation received $12,000, and the Callaway Good Life Center received $600 for IV training.
Local fire and emergency departments received gifts as well. The Anselmo Fire Department received $15,000 toward its new building. Fire departments for Merna and Dunning each received $5,000 to go toward purchase of a Jaws of Life.
Other fire and emergency departments received amounts ranging from $300 to $5,000, including Ansley Fire and Rescue, Broken Bow Ambulance Service, Arnold Volunteer Fire Department, Merna EMS, Sargent Ambulance, Oconto Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Sargent Fire Department, Comstock Fire Department and Broken Bow Fire Department.
The money is for new ambulances, quick response, trauma and jump bags, defibrillators, blood pressure monitors, radios, response kits, and upgrading utility vehicles.
In addition, school and youth groups that helped with the ball also received gifts. Co-chair Karen Evans said the Cattlemen’s Ball grants have specific criteria for medical equipment and related items. However, grants through the Custer County Foundation, local organizations whose members helped out, also benefited from the ball.
In all, $5,000 was distributed to Future Farmers of America chapters for Anselmo-Merna, Ansley, Broken Bow, Gothenburg, Loup County, Sandhills and Sargent as well as student groups from Anselmo-Merna, Ansley, Broken Bow, Sandhills and Callaway and the trapshooting group the Rockcrushers. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln equestrian team and Collegiate Cattlemen’s group also received grants.
The Cattlemen’s Ball retained $20,000 to go toward next year’s event.