The third annual rebirth of the After Birth Ball

Anyone familiar with the seasons of an agricultural economy knows springtime is one of the busiest, but most rewarding seasons for ranchers. Calving season involves long, unpredictable hours and physical demands on the humans who serve as surrogate midwives for their herds.
In 1972, local veterinarians Dr. Alan Jones, Dr. Gary Rupp and Dr. Bert White, decided that after a long calving season, they needed to celebrate the end of another successful calving year by getting together with family and friends. Thus, the “After Birth Ball” was “born.”
“All the credit should go to the wives and ladies of the community who put the whole thing together,” Jones stated, “they were the ones who cooked all the food and planned out the whole thing.”
Mary Strang, Iris Franklin, Jeanie Jones and several other women organized the original potluck that brought the community together. It was an informal event, with no entry fee, no time wasted on fancy decorations, and a simple donation taken up for the band.
“The event was meant to be a time for local ranchers and their families to have some fun and relax after a stressful and crucial time of year,” said Meeker Chamber of Commerce director Katelin Cook.
“It was a time to just let our hair down, really,” Jones recalled. The event continued until 1984, and then disappeared from the community’s annual calendar of events until its “rebirth” in 2010. The After Birth Ball is now under the direction of the Meeker Chamber of Commerce along with help from the Meeker FFA Chapter, sponsored by Shell, Enterprise Gas Processing, Encana Oil and Gas, WPX Energy and Williams Production.
“This event is a terrific opportunity for our agricultural producers, oil and gas industry leaders and the community of Meeker to build relationships furthering economic development in Rio Blanco County,” Cook said.
More than 350 people attended last year’s After Birth Ball, and Cook said the chamber expects at least that many again this year.
The 2012 After Birth Ball, featuring the Loose Change band, will be held April 21 at the Fairfield Center. There will be a live and silent auction, and an FFA hired hand auction, with proceeds supporting the Meeker FFA and agricultural education.
Social hour and an auction preview begin at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and the dance (which is free) will begin at 9 p.m. The Meeker Chamber of Commerce will provide a cash bar, and a Tipsy Taxi will be available.
Dinner tickets are available at the Meeker Chamber and are $25 per adult, $10 for kids 10 and under, and $250 for a reserved table for ten.