Cattlemen’s Ball benefits UNMC Eppley Cancer Center

A rider herds cattle in the cattle penning competition at Cattlemen’s Ball.

Omaha businessman Mike McCarthy loves the Cattlemen’s Ball and what it represents. Each year, he tries to attend – regardless of how many miles he has to drive to get there.

This year’s ball was held June 5 in Brady, Neb. – about 250 miles west of Omaha. It took place on the Upper 84 ranch of Jay Novacek, former Dallas Cowboy tight end and a native of nearby Gothenburg, Neb.

“We’re always searching for ways to change the world, to make it a better place,” said McCarthy, who is chairman of the McCarthy Group, Inc., an Omaha investment firm, and former chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. “In Nebraska, the Medical Center is our best shot at changing the world. I’m really excited about the medical center and what it means to our state.

“The med center is all about smart people committed to change. Because of the opportunities for research at the medical center, we are able to recruit world-leading scientists, thus reversing a brain drain and improving our community. UNMC is developing a level of confidence to allow it to take on almost any challenge. I think it’s terrific that we have an event like this to acknowledge the great research being done at UNMC.”

Jay Novacek signs miniature helmets during the festivities.

This year’s Cattlemen’s Ball was attended by nearly 2,000 people. Novacek’s 3,600-acre ranch provided one of the most scenic backdrops in the state for the annual event. In addition to Novacek and his wife, LeAnne, Novacek’s parents, Pat and June Novacek, also served as hosts of the event.

The ranch, which is located about 30 miles southeast of North Platte, Neb., features rolling hills with yucca plants, wild sage, prairie grass and cedar trees filling the landscape. From its highest peak called June’s Point, the ranch overlooks Jeffrey Lake, providing a panoramic view that few people would ever believe was in Nebraska. June’s Point is named after Jay’s mother.

“People have no idea how neat and rugged these hills are,” Novacek said. “This is one of the great areas of the country.”

The view from June’s Point.

Novacek bought the ranch 12 years ago. Since 1995, it has been stocked with birds and big game for its hunting operation. It also is home to about two dozen horses and 700 cattle, has a sporting clays range and is available for ranch tours. Animals on the ranch include elk, Himalayan tar, aoudad, fallow and mule deer, pheasants, chukar and quail.

Cancer has touched the Novacek family, especially on June Novacek’s side of the family, where three family members have died from cancer and 10 have incurred some form of cancer.

“The cancer part had an influence on why we hosted the ball,” Jay Novacek said. “But the biggest reason is that it’s a good event. I enjoyed doing it.”

Plan to go in 2005 Next year’s ball will be June 4, in Wisner, Neb., which is located in northeast Nebraska about 90 miles from Omaha. The Herb Albers family will host the event.

Novacek is quick to recognize others for making this year’s ball possible, citing Gerald Brown, general chairman of the ball, and the rest of the ball committee for its efforts. “All I did is provided the land,” Novacek said. “They did all the work.”

Country music artist Ty England was the featured entertainer at this year’s ball. Other activities included an art show, a live auction, cowboy poetry, a horse show and a dance. Staff members from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, along with the help of nurses from The Nebraska Medical Center, provided free screenings for prostate and skin cancer and took blood pressure readings.

The Cattlemen’s Ball is the premier fundraising event for cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, while showcasing rural Nebraska and promoting beef in a healthy diet. Over the last six years, the Cattlemen’s Ball has raised more than $750,000 for cancer research. Each year, 90 percent of the proceeds go toward cancer research programs at Eppley, while the remaining 10 percent of the funds raised stay in the local area and are used for health care activities.

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of the Cattlemen’s Ball,” said Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center. “When you put on an event of this magnitude, it takes a real team effort, and the Cattlemen’s Ball team is the best.

“The money raised will provide support for a variety of cancer research projects involving breast, lymphoma and pancreatic cancer. In addition, we will use the money to help develop new approaches for cancer screening, treatment and prevention. These are important studies that truly have the potential to make a difference in people’s lives.”