Cattle Baron's Ball wrangles in $715K

The 2011 American Cancer Society Cattle Baron's Ball held Aug. 20 raised $715,000 through ticket sales, corporate contributions, and silent and live auctions of livestock and other items.

Roughly 300 volunteers worked the event that drew more than 1,000 guests to Missouri State University's William H. Darr Agricultural Center, according to a news release.

The ball surpassed $670,000 raised in 2010, and the $500,000 figure gained during its inaugural year in 2009.

More than $220,000 of the total was raised from the ball's auction items, which included roughly 30 cattle, horses and a llama. This year, ball organizers arranged for beef from about half the cattle auctioned to be donated to charities such as The Kitchen, Victory Mission and Boys & Girls Town, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Proceeds benefit ACS' cancer research and patient aid.

A number of items (see related link) are still up for bid. E-mail or call Mary Valloni, American Cancer Society regional distinguished events director for the high plains division, at mary.valloni@cancer.org or (417) 447-1483 by 12 p.m. Aug. 26 for details.

The 2012 Cattle Baron's Ball has been scheduled for Aug. 18.[[In-content Ad]]