Gala draws 240 to cause

Morning Star Ranch hosted over 240 guests, sponsors, and donors in the third annual Star Gala at the Celebration Event Center in Hico Thursday, Oct. 26.

Attendees enjoyed a social hour, a prime rib dinner served by Littlejohn’s Catering, and an arena show featuring ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ blazing guns and fl ying arrows, a wolf pack and horses performing tricks. The event featured the talents of Josey Harms with a Liberty demonstration, Garrett Underwood the Gunslinger and Trick Roper, Kent and Julie Battenfi eld with a Mounted Archery demonstration, Doug Mathis as Master of Ceremonies, Streakin’ B Art with a live painting demonstration, Alec Gaynor as the event’s Auctioneer and FUNdraiser, and the Morning Star Rider Showcase

“The way our community rallied around the Morning Star Ranch kids was truly amazing,” said Ms. Travis Bickham, Morning Star’s Board Chair. “Each year, the Star Gala event would not be possible without Morning Star’s incredible team of volunteers. The entire event is produced in-house, with each volunteer lending their time and expertise to make the events come to life. This year was certainly no exception. Hundreds of people put in hundreds of hours to bless the children of our community!”

All that work paid off as the event raised over $58,000, which will go towards funding ranch programs and operating expenses in 2024. Morning Star Ranch is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, whose goal is to minister to at-risk and underprivileged children through Equine Facilitated Learning.

The silent, live, and online auctions all featured bigticket items generously donated by businesses in Dublin, Stephenville, Hico, De Leon, Comanche, and other surrounding communities.

This year’s Star Gala Title Sponsor was Hogg Ranch in Monahans.

“Thank you all for your loving support,” said Bickham.

For more information, contact Morning Star Ranch at (254)592-1653 or ranchinfo@ msranch. org. They can also be found on Facebook at: Morning Star Ranch – Dublin, TX and at www.msranch.org.