Barbecue, wine and more at 'Casa Goes Country' benefit dinner in Kenwood

The horse barn was a whole lot dandier than any seen in the Old West, and the grub was a far sight better than that served up on a cattle drive.

Even so, cowboys and 'girls would have felt right at home at a neighborly and musical gala Saturday night in Kenwood.

'CASA Goes Country' was the theme of the benefit dinner hosted by Court Appointed Special Advocates. The nonprofit trains volunteers to befriend, accompany and support abused and neglected children kids forced to navigate foster care and the child welfare system.

Guests arrived at Belos Cavalos, which promotes healing from trauma and pain through the human-equine connection, to behold an exquisite horse barn dressed for a party.

Pourers with 12 Sonoma County wineries offered tastes. With the arrival of dinner time, guests moved out to open-air tables for a Western feast of barbecued ribs and brisket, beans and cornbread prepared by Boon Brands chef Crista Luedtke of Guerneville.

A stage program featured gratitude, a large helping of it coming from a young woman who shared with the crowd how indispensable her CASA volunteer was while she took on the myriad challenges of being a foster child.

Then singer-actor Margaret Belton fired up her tribute to country music legend Patsy Cline.