BEATRICE – A Gage County couple Tuesday announced they will host the 2025 Cattlemen’s Ball in Nebraska….an event that raises funds for cancer research.
Terry and Bev Acton are livestock producers near Liberty. Terry Acton, a member of the Gage County Planning Commission, said the annual event will be June 6th and 7th of next year. The location will be on property a half-mile east of South 94th and the B-Line Road….east of Blue Springs…


"The Cattlemen's Ball of Nebraska is a charity whose mission is to raise money for cancer research through an annual fundraising event, promote beef and a healthy diet, and to showcase rural Nebraska," Terry Acton said.


Ninety percent of the profit from the event goes to the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha. Bev Acton says ten-percent of the proceeds go back to the area. She called it a premier event for cancer research.  "This last weekend, Terry and I went out to Minatare and the view was....in the middle of a pasture, they built a mile-and-a-half road...it was up on the top of a bluff....you could see the whole valley up there. It was just breathtaking up there, where it was hosted."  This year’s ball was held June 7th and 8th in Scotts Bluff County, hosted by Scott and Kristin Schiff.


Bev Acton says being the hosts kicks off a major committee and volunteer effort to prepare for next year’s ball. Acton says the entertainment for next year’s ball will be named later.  "That will be decided, probably, by the first of November. Guests have great food and drink, featuring premium Nebraska beef and locally produced craft beer, wine and spirits. You do not have to be a rancher to attend the Cattlemen's Ball, or know how to dance. All is required is that you have a warm heart and a generous spirit."


Tickets will go on sale for the event later this year. The ball starts on a Friday evening and the event next June will include a morning golf tournament at the Beatrice Country Club……a run on Saturday morning….included among the activities during the two-day ball.


"We have a lot of our preliminary things done. We have our committee chairmen set up...Terry and I are the hosts, but underneath us, there are eight individual hosts."


The Acton’s estimate about 200 people will be working on the planning of the event, bringing together people from multiple counties. The hopes are for an attendance of four thousand to five thousand.