While Travis Tritt cranked up the dance tunes Saturday night and Tony Vallone poured on the cowboy feast, more than 1,400 Cattle Baron's Ball supporters drove the colorful American Cancer Society benefit to a whopping $2 million in proceeds.
Yeehaw! for Cattle Baron's Ball chairs Carol Beck and Debbie Chenevert, who led Victory, the all-volunteer, all-ladies arm of the American Cancer Society, to the spectacular success with their "True Grit" themed evening.
The George Ranch Historical Park party barn was hopping as guests tested their luck at gaming tables, pig races, a wine pull, midway games and more. Wearing their best western chic (lots of party frocks with cowboy boots and loads of jeans), the guys and gals bid at the big board and silent auction, two-stepped around the dance floor and grazed through fields of tasty delights ranging from fried oysters to baja fish tacos to Tony's famed beef tenderloin chili.
Singer Matt Caldwell got the entertainment started, a lineup that continued with spell-binding DSQ Electric (electric violins), The Voice's Savannah Berry singing the "National Anthem" and finally headliner Travis Tritt, who packed the dance floor with his Grammy Award-winning tunes.
The ball honored long-time Cattle Baron's supporter J.D. Fields & Co. — Linda and Jerry Fields, Allie and Jay Fields and Greggory and Patrick Burk. The Fields senior and junior got into a spirited bidding war for the commemorative quilt, with Allie and Jay making the high bid. With Stephen Lewis as auctioneer, the bidding went into the stratosphere with total take from the live auction alone reaching close to $400,000.
The party throng included Victory president Elizabeth Stein with hubby Alan, Paul Beck, Kent Chenevert, Kristina and Paul Somerville, Allison Lewis, Darlene and Cappy Bisso, Cynthia and Ed Urquhart, Regina and Randy Riney, Patti and Don Murphy, Dan D’Armond, Shary and Marshall Heins and Becky and Kelly Joy.
Honorees Jay and Allie Fields, left, and Linda and Jerry “J.D.” Fields.
