• Stacy Stewart and Mary Wade at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball. Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain / Copyright 2018 Gary Fountain
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Stacy Stewart and Mary Wade at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Stacy Stewart and Mary Wade at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Elizabeth McCann, from left, D'Lexis Royce and Caitlin Donahoe at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Elizabeth McCann, from left, D'Lexis Royce and Caitlin Donahoe at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Kelsey Wright, left, and Kelli Fertitta Woods at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Kelsey Wright, left, and Kelli Fertitta Woods at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Lainey Croucher, left, and Ashley Wright at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Lainey Croucher, left, and Ashley Wright at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Russo Valenzuela and Natalie Rogers at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Russo Valenzuela and Natalie Rogers at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Stephanie Morris, from left, Kristy Sokol and Kari Alvarez at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Stephanie Morris, from left, Kristy Sokol and Kari Alvarez at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Tammy Norman, from left, Linnea Kirchhoff and Melissa Hobbs at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball. (For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain,
Tammy Norman, from left, Linnea Kirchhoff and Melissa Hobbs at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball. (For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain,
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Cattle Barons Ball chairs Susan Ryan, left, and Jerré Williams at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Cattle Barons Ball chairs Susan Ryan, left, and Jerré Williams at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Sean and Lindsay Gentry at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Sean and Lindsay Gentry at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Rebecca and Tom Denney at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Rebecca and Tom Denney at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Stephen and Kate Raffaele, from left, with Matt and Jennifer Harbison at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Stephen and Kate Raffaele, from left, with Matt and Jennifer Harbison at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Cable Barons Ball honorees Becky and Kelly Joy at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Cable Barons Ball honorees Becky and Kelly Joy at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Lenjen Go, and Charlie Thomas, from left, with Robin and Danny Klaes at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Lenjen Go, and Charlie Thomas, from left, with Robin and Danny Klaes at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Mary Ann and David McKeithan at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Mary Ann and David McKeithan at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Gigi and Russell Harbison at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Gigi and Russell Harbison at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Alan Stein, from left, Laura Stein and Elizabeth Stein at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Alan Stein, from left, Laura Stein and Elizabeth Stein at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Lori Ginsburg, from left, Dan D'Armond, Annie Russell and Jeff Fehlis at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Lori Ginsburg, from left, Dan D'Armond, Annie Russell and Jeff Fehlis at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Nick Danney and Abigail Jackson at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Nick Danney and Abigail Jackson at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Nellie Connally and Doug Dawson at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Nellie Connally and Doug Dawson at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Amanda Evans and Dallas Hall at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Amanda Evans and Dallas Hall at a celebration to help kick off the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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The Texas KGB performing at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
The Texas KGB performing at a celebration to help kick off for the annual fundraiser for the Cattle Barons Ball.
Photo: Gary Fountain, For The Chronicle/Gary Fountain
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Ahead of  Cattle Baron's Ball's larger-than-life spring blowout - confirmed for April 28 at the George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond - a smaller, more intimate faction gathers every year to toast the party before the party.

On Wednesday, the Gentlemen's Committee raised their glasses at Daisy Dukes for the annual pre-celebration. Cowboys, cowgirls, American Cancer Society supporters and Victory members alike moseyed into the honky tonk on Washington for an open bar, live music by The Texas K.G.B., and an abundance of Tex-Mex.

That's right. Dueling buffets of fajitas, nachos and enchiladas - not barbecue - served up by Tony's Mexican Restaurant were the the first stop for many a party-goer.

The sprawling silent auction tables, which ultimately raised $57,000, were popular as well. Of the proceeds, $21,000 is designated for prostate cancer research; the remainer will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Though there's still funds to raise and fun to be had at the upcoming main event. The bash chaired by Susan Ryan and Jerré Williams is themed "Drilling for a Cure," so dust off your black and gold duds and consider the countdown officially "on."