The Custer County Ag Society played host to friends and patrons at their annual winter ball, “Cowboys and Candlelight”, last Saturday evening, January 24.
Ag Society Treasurer and Ball Committee Member Jake Rosentreader said that with a sold out crowd and really great items put up by gracious donors, there was a great participation in the auctions, helping make the evening a huge success.
To start the event, Ag Society President Brian Palmer provided a summary of the past year. Palmer thanked outgoing Board members Casey Cooksley, Rodney Lamb and Steve Horn. With the departure of these members, the Fair Board has replaced five members in total in the past year, resulting in a Board with little overall experience.
Palmer stated though that the board was energetically looking to grow with new events and activities at the fairgrounds, while looking to honor established traditions.
The annual Friends of the Fair Award recognized the highly-valued partnership the Ag Society has with area auctioneers. Justin French of Broken Bow Livestock, along with Jim Eberle of Dave Davis Auction and Corey Palmer of Palmer Auction received plaques and an ovation for their support of livestock sales at the fair.
Eberle and Palmer were soon pressed into service as the auctioneers for the live auction event held during the evening.
Among the auctioned items, one pair went to a special cause. The Custer County Ag Society and Long Genetics of Hazard, NE donated two half hogs, including processing, for the Live Auction. Proceeds from the half-hog sales went the the Jordan and Maria Popp Family, noted for their ongoing generous contributions and volunteerism for 4-H and the Farigrounds community. The hogs were sold and then donated back to be re-sold a total of 8 times, raising $9,025.
Two raffles were advertised leading up to the evening’s celebration. Thomas McCaslin won the custom rifle from OZ Precision and Amy Lewindowski received the $2,500 landscaping package from Sun Valley Landscaping.
In total, nearly $50,000 was raised at the Cowboys and Candlelight Ball according to Rosentreader. Society President Palmer announced the the Fair Board had a couple of specific projects in mind for the funds. The Board will look to upgrade electrical hookups for campers on the fairgrounds campground that have long been inadequate for modern needs. In addition, improved LED lighting is slated to be installed in the indoor arena, funded at least in part by proceeds from the Ball.
The Custer County Ag Society wants to express a huge thank you to donors, buyers, and the volunteers for their support at the 2026 Winter Ball!
