Fundraising total is second highest in ball’s 15-year history

The 2012 Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska in McCool Junction raised more than $1.4 million— the second highest total in the ball’s 15-year history of providing support to the Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
This marks the third straight year the Cattlemen’s Ball has topped the $1 million mark. The all-time high was $1.49 million raised at the 2011 ball in West Point. In 2010, the ball held in Kearney raised $1,003,000.
As in past years, 90 percent of the proceeds go toward cancer research at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center with the remaining 10 percent going toward local organizations. This year’s breakdown was $1,244,270 to the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and $141,030 distributed locally to 21 different organizations. In addition, $5,000 was raised for scholarships at the UNMC College of Nursing.
The proceeds were announced last week near McCool Junction. Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, was in McCool Junction for the announcement. Since the ball’s inception in 1998, more than $7.61 million has been raised.
“We are absolutely thrilled with what has happened to the Cattlemen’s Ball. It has evolved into probably the biggest fundraising event for the entire state. We are honored to be associated with it,” he said.
This year’s event was hosted by the Allen and Shelly Clark family of McCool Junction and held at the Stone Creek Event Center. Co-chairs of this year’s ball were Paul and Cheri Underwood and Jim and Kathy Matzner of McCool Junction. Ivan Rush of Scottsbluff served as chairman of the statewide advisory board.
The 2013 Cattlemen’s Ball will be June 7-8 at the Hanging H Ranch near Sutherland. Hosts are the Neal Hansen family and the Hanging H Ranch and Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster and family. Co-chairs are Jon Holzfaster and Tim and Deb Holzfaster.

Money raised at the past
15 Cattlemen’s Balls
1998—Ainsworth—$95,000
1999—Lexington—$140,000
2000—Ogallala—$104,000
2001—Valentine—$133,000
2002—Valparaiso—$207,000
2003—Ashland—$33,000
2004—Brady—$174,000
2005—Wisner—$595,000
2006—Milford—$563,250
2007—Lodgepole—$480,000
2008—Albion—$697,000
2009—Doniphan—$488,000
2010—Kearney—$1,003,000
2011—West Point—$1,490,000
2012—McCool Junction—$1,410,300
Total—$7.61 million