OUR RODEO FAMILY

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

4^th 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 everywhere help may be needed. She loves spending time at the Big Hat Ranch and caring for the bucking horses. Best of all she keeps everyone on the crew laughing.

Justin Calzavara

5^th 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. They’ve added the first 6th generation cowgirl to the family, a future Miss Big Hat Rodeo, Gracie Lou. They operate the Rockin’ JS Farm and host bronc riding schools. The family lives in Bristol, WI

Jessica Edwards

Jessica hails from Doniphan, MO and serves as the Big Hat Rodeo arena secretary. 2023 was her first full year as a secretary, but she had also been an official rodeo timer for several years. She spends many hours for each rodeo in preparation for the performances, as well as several more after the rodeo is completed to tally prize money totals and send results to the rodeo association. She has the patience of a saint and quietly does a terrific job.

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 she is loving every minute of caring for Baby Gracie. Even with her hectic schedule, she still works as an official rodeo timer and does an awesome job of videoing rodeos as well as directing all of the arena sponsor banner and flags installation.

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.

Bucky & Sherry Ahrens

Our dream team consists of husband and wife Bucky & Sherry Ahrens. Bucky & Sherry Ahrens No one knows the Big Hat family better than these 2 and their generous spirits, warm smiles and huge hearts make them favorites of all who meet them. They’ve been involved in everything from the Novelty trailer to rebuilding a tack room and offering help on just about everything ranch and rodeo. No project is too big or too small for them to tackle and they always accomplish what they set out to do.

Gillian Flick

A 2024 Accounting major graduate, Gillian has been with the Big Hat Rodeo family for several years. She started in the Big hat Novelty division, creating a new and improved inventory system and assisted the Novelty ladies with everything from unloading and packaging to sales and ordering. For the past 2 rodeo seasons Gillian has also served as an official rodeo timer and has worked closely with our arena secretary, contestants and other timers. She also handles running payoff checks. She is an accomplished, hard-workming and smart young lady who is a joy to have as part of our rodeo family.

Heather Flick

A lifetime member of the Big Hat Rodeo family Heather took over the reins of the Novelty division several years ago and no one can figure out where she gets the energy or time to do everything she accomplishes. She tracks sales and orders, makes recommendations on new products, sets up and tears down the novelty trailer at nearly every rodeo, supervises pricing, customer service and literally speaks to almost every customer. Heather’s grace under fire is legendary and her attention to detail is second to none. All of this while being a full time science teacher, wife, mother, fabulous daughter and an awesome friend. FYI: Cow obsessed.

Bernie Schneider

Bernie is our go to guy for just about everything. He is an integral part of the livestock and feed crew, helps with the set up and tear down of the arenas and almost always has a huge smile. He’s a tireless worker and still tries to get in some Bull Riding whenever he can.

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, 4 year old Hadley.

Wade Crain

Illinois born and raised Wade Crain comes from a rodeo family and joined the Big Hat Rodeo Co family a few years ago and is one half of a very talented team of pickup men. He is engaged to be married in November 2024 to the lovely Maycey Hammond who helps with our Rodeo openings and Wade stays very busy with his bucking bulls.

Maycey Hammond

This young lady has settled right into being a part of the Big Hat Rodeo. She helps with our Opening Pageants and is an avid team roper. She’s bright, funny, a talented horsewoman and she’s busy planning her November 2024 wedding to Wade Crain.

Jay Mielke

Jay joined our rodeo family 10 years ago, first as a photographer but his responsibilities have grown significantly and now he is not only one of the best rodeo photographers/videographers in the business but he’s also our Ticketing and Social Media Marketing Director. His expertise continues to be invaluable to all of our productions.

Alexis Deschler

Alexis is the youngest of our rodeo crew and joined us in 2022. She is an exceptionally fun and hard working young lady who helps with preparing the arenas with sponsor banners and flags as well as lending a hand wherever needed. She is also joining the timers club in 2024 and will assist with getting contestant entries.

Kori Floto

A part of our Big Hat Rodeo family since 2017 Kori manages to take care of just about everybody on the crew as well as husband Andrew and daughter Hadley. She is joining our timers club in 2024 and will also assist with contestant entries. She has been very involved in preparing our arenas with sponsor banners and flags.

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!”

Big Hat Rodeo Co. / Premier Midwest Rodeo Company & Pro Bull Riding / (815) 823-3245

OUR RODEO FAMILY

Current host committee chairpersons had this to say about their Big Hat Rodeo experiences:

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