Who is the most important person at a Big Hat rodeo? YOU, our rodeo fans. Thank you for making our jobs easier & so much more fun!
Here are the people who work tirelessly to bring you sensational family entertainment…
Lenora Calzavara
4th generation stock contractor. Favorite parts of rodeo? “The people we meet, our livestock and working with the best host committees to create successful rodeos that become great traditions. Our crew really is one big family & that’s a huge blessing. We’re proud of the scholarship fund, the kids it helps & that Mom & Dad would love it. They left us a legacy that we want to continue for future generations”.
Lee Ann Calzavara
Lee Ann handles a wide range of responsibilities from timing, bookkeeping, marketing and the Big Hat novelty department. LeeAnn is a former trick rider and specialty acts performer as well as a rodeo timer. She brings a wealth of rodeo knowledge to the team and can fill in almost anywhere help might be needed. Best of all, she is always smiling and keeps everyone else laughing.
Justin Calzavara
5th generation flank man & chute boss. Coordinates arena & livestock crews & when not at rodeos, he’s a talented farrier. Justin is married to Sheena and the two of them are raising two boys, Hayden and Brantley. The family lives in Bristol, WI
Sheena Calzavara
Sheena Calzavara officially joined the Big Hat Rodeo family when she married Justin on May 18, 2019. She and Justin are involved in supporting Hayden and Brantley’s baseball games and many other activities and she still finds time to do an awesome job of videoing rodeos.
Darren Murray
Darren Murray is definitely a cowboy. Darren is a phenomenal pickup man with an awesome set of horses, a great horse trainer, a rodeo clown and a farrier. Despite his crazy schedule, Darren has been part of the Big Hat family for years and brings a smile that never quits.
Rob Gann
Rob Gann is a multi-talented cowboy who can handle everything from being a pickup man, rodeo announcer, rodeo secretary and a great rodeo clown and entertainer. He was selected for his first appearance as the barrelman at the International Finals Rodeo in 2021 and he also serves on the Association Board of Directors for all contract personnel.
Isaiah Garn
Isaiah Garn: Isaiah , originally from Ohio now lives with his wife Jennifer in MO. They both are very familiar with midwestern Barrel Racing and rodeo. Isaiah is an active IPRA announcer and this is his first year joining the Big Hat crew. When not at rodeos, Isaiah is a successful farrier.
Robert Blue Jeanes
Robert Blue Jeanes is a well respected veteran bullfighter who retired from that hazardous job in 2020, after 24 great years. He grew up in a rodeo family, his father was a rodeo announcer so Robert’s career transition seems like a natural one. Blue Jeanes and wife Jennifer make their home in Winnie, TX with their teenage daughter, Graci. The Big Hat Rodeo family is delighted to welcome Blue Jeanes to the crew in 2022, he’ll be announcing at the Dan Patch Festival Pro Rodeo in September.
Skip Ransom
Skip Ransom and his wife Shelley make their home in Decatur, TX. A former bull rider, Skip came up through the ranks starting riding calves at age 7. He continued in rodeo and graduated to riding bulls and began his announcing career while still a Senior in High School. Skip has had an impressive start in rodeo and already has made appearances on the Cowboy Channel and Ride Pass as well as hosting a podcast called “RansomNotes on Instagram”. In 2022 Skip joins the Big Hat crew for the first time and will be handling the microphone at Seymour and Elkhorn, WI.
Shane Esco
Big Hat Lead Bullfighter joined the crew 6 years ago and has been an integral part of the family ever since. The 32 year old is the father of the L’il Boss Man 2 yr old Eli. Shane has been selected by the top 15 bull riders in the International Professional Rodeo Assn to serve as a bullfighter at the International Finals Rodeo. He calls Prattville, AL home.
Jeremy Coan
Leighton AL resident Jeremy Coan is an extremely talented bullfighter and has been a great addition to the Big Hat family for the past 5 years. He is often teamed with Shane Esco and the two of them do an awesome job protecting bull riders. Jeremy is married to the lovely Jody Coan, who is a talented barrel racer.
Jeff Havely
Jeff Havely From Lubbock, TX Jeff is returning to pro rodeo . Jeff competed in Bull Riding and is an avid team roper. Jeff has been a terrific bullfighter and rodeo photographer. He’s also been involved in rodeo production and marketing. He previously worked for Big Hat Rodeo Co for several years and is delighted to be returning to the Big Hat family in 2022 as a rodeo clown and barrelman. Jeff has a son, Chase who attends the University of North Carolina-Charlotte and has been involved in racing since his go cart days.
Andrew Floto
Andrew Floto has been a member of the Big Hat Rodeo family since he was a teenager and he can easily handle transportation and arena set up and tear down as well as being the foreman for the livestock crew. He has been selected to be an integral part of the timed event crew at the International Finals Rodeo and his presence there and throughout the years at Big Hat rodeos has earned him the respect of timed event contestants throughout the country. He is married to a fantastic lady by the name of Kori and they are the parents of the adorable BigHat Rodeo Princess, 2 year old Hadley.
Current host committee chairpersons had this to say about their Big Hat Rodeo experiences:
“While looking for a stock contractor we checked several & there’s no comparison between your Big Hat proposal & all the rest. You not only offered outstanding livestock & professional personnel but you continue to provide marketing expertise to help us increase sponsorship & ticket sales. You helped us create a plan to keep our rodeo growing for years to come. Our marketing strategy is modern, eye-catching & proving to be very effective & we’re not breaking the bank. You really care about our rodeo…and you show it! Thanks Big Hat!”
“Wanted to tell you how much we’ve enjoy Big Hat producing our rodeo. Performances have been wildly successful, your input on our facility has made every seat have a great view & your promotional savvy has helped us grow everything…from sponsors to spectators & contestant numbers. Your crew has been wonderful to work with & have added a lot of fun to our efforts…Thanks for everything. We can’t wait for our next rodeo!”