Cattlemen's Ball gets Corvette donation from Harchelroads

This year’s Cattlemen’s Ball goal of clearing $2 million for cancer research in Nebraska got a big boost with the donation of a 2013 Chevy Corvette from Harchelroad Motors, Inc., of Imperial and Wauneta.

The Corvette donated by Harchelroads is a 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Grand Sport Coupe, valued at $75,000.

This year’s Cattlemen’s Ball will be held June 7-8 at the Hanging H Ranch between Paxton and Sutherland on Hwy. 30.

The families of Ralph and Beverly Holzfaster of Paxton and Neal Hansen of Sutherland will serve as the hosts for this year’s event.

In addition to raising funds for cancer research, the event also promotes the Beef industry in Nebraska.

Shocked by donation Holzfasters said they were visiting with area car dealers with the hopes of getting $3,000 vouchers good for the purchase of a new car from participating dealers.

As a host family for the ball, they had come to Imperial to visit with Sid Harchelroad about the idea.

“Sid just shook his head and said he didn’t want to do that,” Bev Holzfaster recalled. Instead, he offered to donate a Corvette. “We just about fell out of our chairs.”

She said Sid wanted to do that in memory of his dad, Gene, who passed away in 2002 after a five-year battle with lung cancer.

Harchelroad said he’s seen cancer affect not only his family but friends and employees as well. He added he’s lost some friends along the way but also has employees who have beaten cancer.

Harchelroad said the goal is to raise $500,000 through the sale of tickets for the Corvette. Tickets sell for $500 each, with a maximum of 1,000 tickets sold.

He said last week they are already well on their way towards the $500,000 goal.

Of the money raised at this year’s Cattlemen’s Ball, 90 percent goes to support cancer research at the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

The other 10 percent stays in the area where the ball is held and is used for a variety of cancer-related health care grants.

Holzfasters praised the work being done by the Eppley Institute. Ralph said he and Bev have both had bouts with cancer so serving as hosts for this year’s ball takes on greater meaning.

Great support so far Holzfasters said they have found amazing support in the area for this

year’s ball.

They said it takes 400 volunteers to play host to the more than 4,000 people who attend the annual event.

The event typically sells out each year. Two levels of tickets are available.

The Trail Boss ticket costs $350 and entitles the holder to events and receptions planned for both Friday night, June 7 and all day Saturday, June 8.

The $75 Top Hand ticket includes a prime rib supper and concert by the country group Lonestar Saturday night.

The couple said many volunteers have already stepped forward to help.

Other co-chairs for the event include Holzfaster’s sons, Jon and Tim, both of Paxton, Doug Teaford of Ogallala and Greg Wilke of North Platte.

The Cattlemen’s Ball is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization so contributions, such as tickets for the Corvette, are tax-deductible, Holzfasters noted.

Tickets can be purchased locally at Harchelroad Motors in Imperial and Wauneta.

– Russ Pankonin, The Imperial Republican