Meet The Hosts
Introducing your 2025 Cattlemen’s Ball Hosts, Terry and Beverly Acton and Family. Terry and Beverly’s lives are deeply rooted in the cattle industry and the couple works hard to raise quality beef products. Terry was born and raised in Beatrice, Nebraska and Beverly was born in Sidney, Nebraska where they both grew up on farms. Since the day they were old enough to trail behind their fathers, they have been working in and around agriculture. They both started showing cattle in 4-H at eight years old and since then, the love for this industry has never stopped.
Together, Terry and Beverly have three sons; Westley, Michael, and Justin who have blessed them with seven grandchildren. 15 years ago, Terry and Beverly opened “Classics”, a local restaurant located on the south end of Beatrice. The two loved showcasing their own hamburger product to their customers. “The customers were the best part.” Bev states. “To have them come to the kitchen door, catch your attention, and give you a thumbs up was what made the long days and nights worth it.” Aside from raising cattle, the Acton’s also raise corn, soybeans, and hay. Small towns are the heart of America. It is where the Acton’s have been taught values, respect, and the work ethic. The Cattlemen’s Ball would not be successful without the people and the neighbors you know that have stepped up to be apart of it, and all of that comes from a small town.
The Acton’s believe that the mission behind the Cattlemen’s Ball is what makes it special. “We realized that the dollars raised during these events seed the research to someday save the life of someone we do not know, or will never know, but we helped to give someone hope.” Bev explained. Like most individuals, cancer has touched both sides of the Acton family. Terry a mother and grandfather; Bev a bother, grandfather, and nephew. “This event brings small towns and different communities together for a cause that in the end, saves lives.”
General Chairs
Randy & Laurie Huls
Randy and Laurie operate a diversified farm and produce corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, cattle and swine. They farm with their son, Blake, and wife, Bailey. They also have 2 daughters Jessica Larson (Mike) and Missi Kohn (Ryan). They value spending time with family and are blessed to have all their children and 7 grandchildren living nearby. They are involved in their church and several community groups. They believe in the power of community support and look forward to raising money for such a worthy cause that has affected so many. Cancer research is important to them as Randy is a Cancer Survivor. They are honored and excited to be involved with the 2025 Cattleman’s Ball.
Kelly Lenners
Kelly, and husband, James, Lenners grew up in Gage County, Nebraska, in the Filley area. Both were raised on diversified farming operations that taught strong work ethic and that hard work pays dividends. After graduating with a Business Management degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kelly began her career as an Ag Loan Officer working with agriculture producer’s and their families. She is currently the Regional President/Loan Officer with First State Bank Nebraska where she continues to care for business and agriculture customers. James is also a part of the First State Bank Nebraska team, where he works financing ag producer’s as well as is a Crop Insurance Specialist.
Kelly and James currently live near Adams, Nebraska and continue to operate their family farms. Their children have roots deep in the healthcare industry. Daughter Morgan and husband Adam Frerichs live in Beatrice, Morgan is a Physical Therapist with BCH PT Department. They have twin 2 year old daughters Emma and Avery. Daughter Emily and husband Brendan Lipovsky live in Lincoln where Emily is an RN with Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialties PC. Son Garrett is currently a student in the MD program at UNMC, Omaha. He and his fiance’ Reagan Koza will be married June 2025.
Outside of working at the bank and helping on the family farm, Kelly enjoys spending time with family, playing with the grandkids, attending sporting events and planning their next vacation. She is currently a member of the Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. Supporting the Ball, and the Buffet Cancer Center, has been an enlightening and fulfilling opportunity. Like many, her family has been affected by Cancer and they have recently seen first hand the compassion of the doctors and staff at the center, where client care and miracles happen.
Ryan Trauernicht
Ryan and his wife, Katie, live in Beatrice, NE with their three children: Lila – 9, Henry – 6 and Ada – 3. Ryan’s grandparents, now retired, own a small farm outside of Pickrell where they raised row crops and cattle (first dairy then beef). Katie was raised in rural Johnson County where her father continues to farm row crop and raise cattle today. Ryan is currently the market president at Pinnacle Bank in Beatrice and Katie is a nurse at Lincoln Surgical Hospital. They have many memories growing up in and around agriculture and are active in agriculture to this day. Ryan and Katie own and farm a small row crop operation with Ryan’s Dad and brother. In their free time, they enjoy chasing their kids around to various activities and traveling. In addition, Ryan serves on five other Beatrice Community Boards; the Beatrice Community Hospital, Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, Beatrice Noon Kiwanis, the YMCA Foundation Board, and the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. Having numerous friends and family that have battled cancer over the years, Ryan and Katie are honored to help raise funds towards cancer research and are excited the Cattleman’s Ball is coming to Gage County.
Mark & Sheri Wieden
Just down the road from the Cattlemen’s Ball location is the former town of Union Center, Nebraska. Located in the former downtown area is Wieden Cattle Company, owned and operated by Mark and Sheri Wieden. Wieden Cattle Company has been raising Hereford cattle for the past 42 years, 14 in the current location. Over the years, Red Angus and Wagyu cattle have been added to the mix, with plans for a farm to consumer meat sales business underway. In that time, they have also been blessed with two children – Megan and Matthew. Their daughter, Megan, and son-in-law, Garrett Leithoff, reside in Pleasanton, NE and are raising the Wieden’s three grandsons, while working at Pleasanton Public School and KAAPA Ethanol, Ravenna. Mark & Sheri’s son, Matt, returned home after graduating from NCTA and lives and works on the family farm. His cattle business, Union Center Genetics, represents the third generation of Hereford beef producers in the family.
Both Mark and Sheri are graduates of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and met while on the 1980 Jr. Livestock Evaluation Team. After working for a northwestern Kansas Hereford operation, they returned to the Liberty/Blue Springs area to begin farming and raising cattle alongside Mark’s parents, Clarence and Elaine Oltmans. Mark and Sheri are looking forward to working with their neighbors, Bev & Terry Acton, in planning this special event for our area and Nebraska. Like many others, they have lost family members to cancer, and celebrated with family and friends who have survived this devastating disease and hope to see it brought to an end.