Boots and Black Tie Ball set for March 12
By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
ERATH COUNTY (March 1, 2016) – It’s a ranch. It’s a riding club. And so much more. Lilly G Ranch combines ranching and western heritage with animal advocacy and community service.
The Dublin-area ranch is celebrating a milestone, its 12th anniversary. Friends, supporters and riding club members will gather for a Boots and Black Tie Ball, featuring a catfish dinner with all the trimmings, cowboy poetry by Elaine Fields Smith, performances by award-winning gospel/country entertainer Gail Cogburn and The Hico Line Dancers, as well as a dance with the Texas Country sound of Jayme Wade Band.
Preparing for the big event, which will be held 6-11 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the Texas National Guard Armory in Stephenville, Lilly G founder and foreman Rick Taylor shared a little bit about the ranch’s namesake, his grandmother, Geraldine.
“I later learned her first name was Lillian and she hated it, so she went by her middle name – Geraldine,” Taylor said. “She passed away in 2003.”
On March 9 of the following year, the gates to the ranch were opened under the name Lilly G, honoring the woman who taught him a lot – without emblazing a name she didn’t on its gate.
“Prior to that, we just ran some horses and some cows,” Taylor said.
Since the name change, the Lilly G Riding Club was formed and Taylor and like-minded enthusiasts have worked together to provide equine rescue assistance and raise funds for community members in need and charities.
The 12th anniversary celebration will bring those loves – and those people – together once again.
“There’s no door fee for the dinner and dance,” Taylor said. “We want people to be able to come and have a good time regardless of their financial situation. That’s something my grandmother taught me, you have to do for other people to get it back.”
And in true Lilly G spirit, Taylor said all funds raised at the March 12 anniversary celebration will be given to Cowboy Capital MS Trail Ride organizers, who contribute their annual proceeds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“A bunch of used to get together and ride in the trail ride every year, but we haven’t participated in about three years,” Taylor said. “The ride is coming up in May, so we decided to do what we can to help out.”
Anyone and everyone is invited to the Lilly G celebration, but Taylor asks that attendees RSVP by calling or texting him at (254) 459-0141.
“We just ask that everyone put on their boots and black ties and come out to help us celebrate,” Taylor said. “And if they can, we ask they make a donation to this awesome charity event.”
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