With superstar entertainment and millions raised for the American Cancer Society, the Cattle Baron’s Ball is a big deal in Dallas. For 2016, chairwomen Cara French and Andrea Weber welcomed a “Texas Proud” crowd to Gilley’s Dallas on October 15.
Dressed in their best Western(ish) attire, thousands of attendees — including Kim Schlegel Whitman, Kari Schlegel Kloewer, Kent Rathbun, Maggie Cooke Kipp, Quitman Stephens, Piper Wyatt, JB Hayes, Marjon and Gibbs Henderson, Nina Sachse, and Tanya and Pete Foster — began the evening with the smooth sounds of Dwight Yoakam in the live auction room.
To think that was just the warm-up.
G Texas Catering provided an endless supply of bites throughout the night, at stations stocked with Southern staples such as barbecue, Tex-Mex, Creole, and chili. Among the favorites were jalapeño chicken knots, cracked pepper shrimp on green chile grit cakes, and sausage strudel with ground mustard. There also was a decadent dessert bar.
After sufficiently fueling up, guests ventured into the auction rooms. Both live and silent auctions were stacked with prize packages that ranged from exciting excursions — an adventure hiking trip in Bhutan, a Kentucky Derby package, a Tag Heuer Indy 500 VIP experience — to clothing and jewelry. When not placing bids, partiers took rides on a Ferris wheel.
Then it was time to find a spot around the Miller Lite Main Stage to see headliner Toby Keith, who wooed fans with songs like “Red Solo Cup,” “How Do You Like Me Now,” and “I Wanna Talk About Me.” The country-loving crowd sang along to every word.
Post-concert, the fun continued at the after-party, where Studio 54 Band played and everyone got a few last bites.
Since 1974, Cattle Baron’s Ball has raised nearly $68 million in the ongoing pursuit of a cure for cancer via the American Cancer Society. This year’s gala proceeds are targeting melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, which takes the lives of more than 10,000 people in the United States each year.
Megan Huffstickler, Macee Blanchard, Rachel Robinson
