Spooner Rodeo Entertainment 2025
PRO RODEO ANNOUNCER: KELLY KENNEY
Kelly Kenney was born in 1975 and raised in a small town in southwest Missouri with hard working, loving parents and two older brothers. Kenney credits his parents for allowing his dreams of becoming a cowboy to come true. He says, “Just now I realize how many sacrifices my family made to haul me to all of those high school rodeos. (We were) Living off of very little, but I never knew it, I felt I was the richest kid in the world.”
At an early age he learned to ride a stubborn little sorrel pony, and it wasn’t long before that experience developed into a love of rodeo. In high school, he learned how to rope and bulldog, and how to play guitar. He went to college on a rodeo scholarship. Soon officiating high school and college baseball and basketball, rodeoing, picking and singing consumed his life, leaving him with very little time for anything else. Then accidentally, in 1996. at a rodeo in his home town, the announcer didn’t show. Kenney reluctantly agreed to help. That night in November of ’96, he was “bitten by the entertainment bug,” as he puts it.
The next four years of Kenney’s life were jammed packed with excitement. He was announcing rodeos and competing hard all summer, officiating college baseball in the springtime, calling basketball games all winter and filling any otherwise vacant time slots with singing gigs. It didn’t take long for Kelly 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, and ranching.
In 2000 he became the head rodeo coaching position at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO. 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 turned pro in 2001, resigned from the college in good standing, hung up his officiating uniforms and has never looked back.
Now Kenney announces PRCA Rodeos full time working approximately 30-40 events each year, traveling from Georgia to California and Texas to Montana. Last year he announced three Wisconsin rodeos, Spooner, Madison and Merrill. Despite his busy schedule all around the United States, last year, for example Kenney was able to fit in a fishing vacation in May and a hunting trip in November.
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 go hunting, pick with the band and auctioneer some sales. Most importantly, I get to truly enjoy my family.”
To find out more about Kelly Kenney, visit his website: http://www.kellykenney.com/index.html
ENTERTAINMENT: THE ONE ARM BANDIT AND COMPANY
JOHN PAYNE
The One Arm Bandit, was born to a rancher in the oil rich town of Shidler, Oklahoma on April 19,1953. On June12, 1973, thinking the electricity had been shut off, John climbed up a telephone pole to cut some wires. Problem was, he was dead wrong. 7,200 volts of electricity ran through his entire body. It burnt through fingers of his right hand and he fell to his death. He was brought back to life, but was in bad shape. The electricity exited through his body and the voltage had burnt through his left leg. Despite the electrocution, he survived. The doctors wanted to cut John's left leg off but he told them "I can't ride a horse with one leg and if I can’t ride a horse, then I don't want to live." The doctors did, however cut off his damaged right arm. After five weeks in the Tulsa Burn Center the doctor reported "no apparent brain damage, but he was short handed" Using trained mules, buffalo, mustangs and longhorn steers, Payne's show is unlike any other around as he leads the herd through a variety of thrilling acts with the animals featured high atop his custom-made trailer. For Payne, it's an act that comes with plenty of excitement and even more risk. But the One Arm Bandit and Company act also comes with rewards as Payne has been named the PRCA Specialty Act of the Year 12 times, including most recently in 2011. "I had a year to get ready for my first rodeo show, & it still wasn't perfect." Payne said. "But it has evolved and grown a lot over the years, after 59 years, I finally figured out what I am and what I wanted to be. l'm a hardcore, Okie, redneck cowboy." Payne even worked his act for the King of Oman in 2011.
RODEO CLOWN: GIZMO MCCRACKEN
Gizmo McCracken, the "2017 Comedy Act of the Year" has been entertaining crowds across the Country for many years. He became a member of the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) in 1992. Since that time the list of accomplishments has grown beyond belief. Working 19 PRCA Circuit Finals Rodeos in 10 of the 12 circuits, 2023 NFR OPEN, Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Nominated "Coors Man in the Can" 3 times, Nominated "Clown of the Year", 2017 Comedy Act of the Year, Nominated for Comedy Act of the year 11 times, voted onto the short list for the Wrangler National Final Rodeo Barrel Man in 2017 and a feature act at the 2005 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Gizmo takes pride in the fact that his humor is good, clean, family style comedy. Gizmo travels the country from Canada to Texas, from the East Coast to the West Coast logging thousands of miles a year through dozens of states. Gizmo started his career as bullfighter and moved into stand-up comedy on a show in Branson, MO. Gadgets and gizmos that went sour were often part of his routine, hence the name "Gizmo, The World's Greatest Inventor." Clowns today are changing fast but Gizmo holds on to the core of the Rodeo Clown as it was designed years ago. Gizmo will work your rodeo from start to finish. No one in the industry works harder at making your event everything it can possibly be than Gizmo. He has a wide variety of acts to suit any need and can provide variety if you desire by using multiple act at your event. He supplies a Character and that is just what he is. Many of Gizmo's Characters will find their way into your town and your arena. "I like to keep people looking for me and wondering what I am going to do next." said Gizmo. The acts share a high energy, clean , family oriented feel which adds a fresh new atmosphere to any rodeo he is a part of. Gizmo is the Best Comedy Entertainer that this sport has to offer. Regardless of whether you have seen him before or this is your first experience I am confident that you will leave laughing.
COUNTRY MUSIC: CINDY JO & DIRT ROAD DIXIE
Cindy Jo & Dirt Road Dixie are a fast rising Minnesota based band that was established in the return of lead powerhouse singer Cindy Jo from American Idol. Cindy Jo has also made such a strong stamp in the industry. From American Idol to The Voice, Cindy-Jo has gained some great exposure along with knowledge, training and experience through her music journey. Cindy Jo is often compared to Dolly, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride, but also creates her own sound and vibe to her music and performances . Cindy Jo has brought her music all over the Midwest including Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa and Michigan, but was born and raised in Minnesota. She has opened for National acts such as David Lee Murphy, Dan and Shay, Craig Morgan, Sara Evans and many more as well as worked with many radio station events. Recently she performed for the Minnesota Wild amd St Paul Saints. She was the entertainment for consecutive years for the Mn Horse Expo also. Releasing an original "Canoe" and "Pretty Ugly" which have played on local radio, Cindy-Jo is looking forward to a continuing, successful, fun and exciting future as just Cindy-Jo Music and slowly transitioning away from Dirt Road Dixie. Backed by talented and professional musicians, Cindy-Jo and her band create a show you don't want to miss and an atmosphere that you don't want to leave! With great harmonies, high energy, a rocking set list mixed with the drive to succeed , make sure to catch a show with Cindy-Jo’s. 2024 has brought a lot of new excitement for Cindy Jo and 2025 is ramping up for her new “solo” career, new promo, videos, new recording sessions, new merch and more in the works.