Double the Fun!
Not one, but two, of PRCA’s best, most exciting Rodeo Announcers will be on hand to preside over the 2012 PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo! Involving the audience from the moment they enter the arena, these two announcers will both entertain and educate rodeo fans.
Please meet your Rodeo Announcers: Don Jesser & Kelly Kenney!
“Rodeo fans are the most enthusiastic, fun-lovin, patriotic, fans in the world – they love their rodeo and are one of the biggest parts of the show,” said Jesser. “The cowboys and cowgirls, and the animal athletes, love when the crowds are stomping their feet and cheering them on.”
Both Jesser and Kenny have extensive experience in the arena and an unparallelled knowledge of Rodeo. They are passionate professionals who love what they do and their enthusiasm is infectious. They will ensure those fans new to rodeo have a great time while learning about the contestants, learning about the different events, and about the sport of rodeo. With these two professional and dedicated announcers, we are guaranteed to have a great time!
Don Jesser – Professional PRCA Rodeo Announcer:
Don Jesser - Professional PRCA Rodeo Announcer
2012 PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo
(Photo by Liz Breault)
Always exciting, informative, and truly a crowd favorite, Don understands Rodeo. He draws upon his 20 plus years of experience not only as a Rodeo Announcer, but upon his personal experience as a saddle bronc rider, bareback rider, and team roper. When Don makes his grand entrance into the rodeo area atop his paint horse “Crusher”, the crowd goes wild. His rodeo “know how” helps him describe each thrilling moment of the action and allows him to educate the fans about their favorite contestants, as well as the events as they occur. Don is one of the very few in the elite category of Rodeo Announcers who actually calls the action on horseback. Being inside the arena as the action is happening helps him connect the athletes to the audience.
Kelly Kenney – Professional PRCA Rodeo Announcer
Kelly Kenney - Professional PRCA Rodeo Announcer
2012 PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo
(Photo by Shawna Nelson)
Describing Kelly Kenney, it has been said that the southern hospitality that flows from within this silky smooth baritone is as rock solid as his old fashion cowboy roots! His quick wit and his down home humor, along with his ability to connect with an audience, makes him one of the most sought after Rodeo Announcers in Pro Rodeo.
Kenney comes from very humble beginnings. He was born and raised in small town, USA, in southwest Missouri. With hard working, loving parents and two older brothers, life was very basic, yet exciting and meaningful in this quiet little town of 900 folks.
Kenney credits his parents for allowing his dreams of becoming a cowboy to come true. Kenney says, “Just now I realize how many sacrifices my family made to haul me to all of those high school rodeos. Living off of very little, but I never knew it, I felt I was the richest kid in the world.” It all started with a stubborn little sorrel pony. Learning to ride and being tough came at an early age in his family.
Needless to say, Kenney’s life was very fast paced from the start, including rodeo, sports and music. He learned to rope, bulldog and play guitar in high school, then went onto college on a rodeo scholarship. Officiating high school and college baseball and basketball, rodeoing, picking and singing consumed his life with very little time to spare. Then accidentally, in 1996 at a rodeo in his home town, the announcer didn’t show. He then reluctantly agreed to help. That night in November of ’96 Kenney was bit by the entertainment bug.
The next four years of Kenney’s life was jammed packed with excitement. Announcing rodeos and competing hard all summer, officiating college baseball in the springtime, calling basketball games all winter and filling every vacancy available with a singing gig. It didn’t take long for Kenney to realize his life was being consumed with work and travel, leaving little time for the things he loved at home: his family, hunting, fishing, ranching, etc.
In 2000, he was asked to take the head rodeo coaching position at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO. He accepted the job in hopes of slowing down and embedding his roots. The next year Kenney was encouraged by his peers, students, and family to pursue a career in the field that he had originally started years earlier, announcing rodeos. Kenney received pro status in 2001, resigned from the college in good standings after a very successful season, quit competing, hung up his officiating uniforms and never looked back.
Since 2001 Kenney has had the opportunity to work many great rodeos and with some of pro rodeo’s most talented acts and entertainers. Kenney gives great credit to those many people along his journey who saw a talent in this small town country boy from Missouri.
Kenney has finally found his home behind the microphone. Now Kenney announces PRCA Rodeos full time, working approximately 30-40 events each year. With a cow/calf operation at home, Kenney’s life remains full of responsibilities. Kenney says, “Now when rodeo season slows down in the fall, I get a chance to hunt most of the winter and pick with band and auctioneer some sales. Most of my cows are fall calvers due to my schedule, which works well. But most importantly, I get to truly enjoy my family.”