- Open Bar Reception
- Appetizers
- Silent Auction - Click here for online auction bidding
- Luau-style Meal by Chef Salvador Aguirre
- Entertainment
- Raffle and Door Prizes - Buy Your Raffle Tickets Online (need not be present to win)
- Muumuus and Hawaiian shirts optional

Warm breezes blow through the tall palm trees as water in the lagoon laps at the footbridge that leads guests to the 2007 Hawaii-themed Gala Fundraiser for the National Ranching Heritage Center on May 19.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the third annual gala will feature a “Wahini” presentation of flower leis to each person entering the reception, Hawaii-inspired flowers and decorations, open bar and tall punch drinks served at the cabana and tiki huts, a luau-type meal and lots of surprises, including a special “Tiny Bubbles” segment.

Gala proceeds will support preservation and maintenance of the 45 historic ranch structures at the National Ranching Heritage Center. Activities designed to raise funds as part of the gala include a raffle package of a 26-inch, Sanyo Flat Panel Widescreen HDTV, DVD player and the first seasons of “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.” Raffle tickets are $10 each and can be purchased online. A large silent auction of original art, collectible spurs, books, jewelry and gift items will be posted on the NRHC’s Web site for early bidding with final bids taken at the gala. Click here for online auction bidding

Tickets for the Hawaii Gala are $75 each. Table Sponsors may purchase reserved seating for eight for $1,000. As a gala fundraiser, Buck Taylor, artist and Western actor from the long-running TV series “Gunsmoke,” the movie “Tombstone” and numerous other films, will sign prints of his artwork for $100 and spend time visiting with the donors.

Special VIP guests will mingle with event patrons throughout the evening. Door prizes keeping with the theme will be awarded and elegant thank-you gifts from Hawaii will be given to each person present at the gala.

For reservations, contact Whitney Barron at (806) 742-2498 or whitney.barron@ttu.edu. To order online, go to www.nrhc.ttu.edu/gala2007.html. The Ranching Heritage Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation supporting the NRHC.

“The staff has made extra efforts this year to transform the National Ranching Heritage Center front entrance and patio into a Hawaiian setting,” said Marsha Pfluger, co-chair with Whitney Barron for this year’s gala.

“When one thinks of Hawaii, usually flowers, water and sandy beaches come to mind. We will have all of those, plus several other island mood-setting elements, like 15-foot tall, lighted palm trees.”

Announcing the evening’s activities as Master of Ceremonies will be Cimarron Sounds recording artist R.W. Hampton, who with other musical guests will also provide music to close out the event.

A partner exhibition in the Main Gallery is titled “Paniolo Traditions: Hawaiian Cowboys and Culture.” In this exhibit, curated by Robin Gilliam Crawford, people will see examples of the paniolo lifestyle.

“Cowboys exist literally all across the globe,” Crawford said. “But each culture has its own distinguishing characteristics. For example, paniolos wear cowboy hats, but the hatbands are made of flowers or shells or leaves, much like traditional leis. Many of the paniolos work on Hawaii’s historic Parker Ranch, which is featured in the exhibition.”

Dress for the gala may include Hawaiian shirts, muu muus or other casual attire. In the event of inclement weather, the gala will be moved inside.

For information contact Whitney Barron or Marsha Pfluger (806) 742-2498.