A Little Rain Never Hurt Nobody
Pouring rain, mounds of mud and the Dallas cast: Cattle Baron's Ball 2012 wasone for the history books
The Cattle Baron’s Ball is one of the most anticipated events of the year, so when the weather reports predicted a downpour, we were worried. But that was silly. Driving rain didn’t stop the throngs of supporters from roughing it at Southfork Ranch. They were bound and determined to see heartthrob Blake Shelton — and raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Sure, the ball was a muddy mess, but who wouldn’t stomp through a little sludge to see the country star and support the largest fundraiser for cancer research? Even without his band’s instruments — which were too wet to use — the country crooner still put on a heck of a show.
Although the weather dampened a few Luccheses, ladies still sparkled (a shout out to Pinto Ranch for providing our jewels for the evening) and gents still shined, to the delight of co-chairs Skye Brewer and Kristen Johnson — and a team of more than 100 ladies — who prepared all year for the grand celebration.
To keep guests semi-dry and as comfortable as possible, huge white tents were spread throughout the land — for the buffet of Southern comfort food, musical performances, and silent and live auctions. And thankfully so: Funds raised totaled more than $1 million.
Even though they were a little rain-soaked, guests such as Barbara Daseke, Lisa Garza, Paula and Billy Hicks, Abigail Bebee, Kathryn Beach, Merry Wyatt, Tavo and Christopher Sido, Meg McGonigle, Lindsay Gillen, and Kelly and Jeff Novel wore their cowboy-chic threads well. Members of the Dallas cast — including Larry Hagman, Josh Henderson and Brenda Strong — also braved the storm.
Among the evening’s highlights: comfortable buses that transported guests from the valet and self-parking to the ranch, s’mores station that made us forget about the mud for a minute, Shelton singing "Home" with a guitar in hand, and the exciting travel packages in the silent auction.