El Padrino

Self-titled "El Padrino" (The Godfather) of San Fermin in Nueva Orleans, Mickey Hanning was born on the Westbank of New Orleans, and after graduating as a mighty Eagle from Archbishop Shaw High School moved to Baton Rouge for his 8.5 year college education. Sure, most of those people are "called doctors," but he's a simple Business Grad from Louisiana State University (LSU). Post-graduate work began in Houston, Tejas, USA, where his affinity for Latin Culture was born (not really).

As most people do, at least men, he created a list: the top 3 things he had to do: 1. Sky-diving (accomplished while at LSU) 2. Run a marathon (may have to be changed) 3. Run with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

During an inebriated Mardi Gras in 2001 he promised a comrade he would test his bravado in Pamplona. Nearly 1.5 years later, he made good on that promise to attend Sanfermines (the festival in Pamplona), and made 66.7% of his top three ‘things-to-do’ completed.

When the Prodigal Son returned to New Orleans, he was swept away by Beth Rosenfeld. She did the unthinkable and married him. She kept him thinking and dreaming - and once again, during Mardi Gras 2007, he birthed the idea of San Fermin in Nueva Orleans after seeing a friend dressed as a Correro (runner). With Beth 100% behind the dream, he found the other integral Pastores to make it happen. You can read their Bios here as well. The rest, as they say, is currently happening, so stick around and ride along with El Padrino y sus Pastores! There are lots of great things to come, as he is dreaming all the time (just having a harder time remembering them).

Contact Pastór Mickey

El Consejero

Dylan O'Donnell loves to throw parties.  He's a Gemini -- go figure. 

After several successful years leading tours in Rome, Dylan returned to the Big Easy in December of 2005 just after Hurrican Katrina struck.  In his various efforts to revitalize the city none have been as much fun as planning the Running of the Bulls in New Orleans.

First approached by El Padrino Mickey, Dylan was enthralled with the idea of a bull run in the Crescent City and was happy to lend his crowd-generating skills to the production.  Armed with a bottle of dry white wine from Spain he plunged ahead and created a MySpace site for the event and the underground promotions began. 

Coupled with the instant word-of-mouth buzz about an Encierro in New Orleans the idea spread, and the people were ready. The rest, as they say, is history.

Although no expert, Dylan is a fan of Spanish culture - enjoying the wine, cuisine, and visual art of the Iberian Peninsula.  He's also excited about the possibility of unifying the Spanish culture enthusiasts currently residing in New Orleans - a former Spanish colony, at one time known as Nueva Orleans.

Contact Pastór Dylan

El Guapo

Born in 1980, Kurt Eischen hails from Buffalo, N.Y. His childhood was notable in that soon after leaving the womb, he was the youngest person in America's history to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. While the disorder was a curse as a schoolboy, it proved to be invaluable in the clubs of Tokyo, where Kurt found himself frequenting in his late teens to early 20's as a U.S. Navy sailor. Kurt stopped taking his medication for the disorder upon joining the military, not because he outgrew the disorder, but because military rules forbade it. Kurt credits the disorder for keeping him away from energy-boosting narcotics such as cocaine, because the added excitement and confusion would have been superfluous. Literally bouncing from Asia to Europe, spending a few years stationed on the Italian island of Sardegna, Kurt finally settled in New Orleans, a place where he is finally no different than others. Kurt recently finished his final contract with the U.S. Navy, immediately suiting up with another group of fun-loving folks: the New Orleans Police Department.

He spells his name with a backwards "r", because that's how he's spelled since grade school.

Contact Pastór Kurt

La Madrina

Beth Rosenfeld Hanning is a lifelong resident of New Orleans, leaving only for a short while to graduate from the University of Mississippi, aka Ole Miss, (which she has since renounced after marrying an LSU grad who cares more about sports than she does). Nomadic in her high school years, Mrs. Hanning came back home to work in the Graphic Design world. After a few years of hating the 9 to 5 corporate world, she got hooked up at a gallery and now manages that full-time.

Beth was then HOOKED UP with one Mickey Hanning by a good friend of hers, and is now living in hog heaven as his wife (who wrote this?). Beth took on the role of La Madrina and made sure that it all ran smoothly. She also remains the most sober of Los Pastores at the meetings to insure that we get things accomplished, which is really nice of her. La Madrina's real claim to fame though: she created all the of the great banners...by hand! Look for new, exciting designs at this year’s festival!

Contact Pastór Beth

La Rebellina

Pastór Tracey grew up just across the river from the French Quarter of New Orleans. She graduated from LSU in graphic design in 2004, and in 2006 she met Pastór Dylan. She fell madly in love with him, his crazy friends, and his even crazier ideas. So, she moved back to New Orleans in '07 and decided to go ahead and marry him. Somehow, she knew it would be the most interesting relationship she'd ever be in. So far, she's been right.

Also that year, Tracey started moonlighting as "Archbishop Pummel" for the Big Easy Rollergirls. When Pastór Mickey approached her about his brilliant bull run idea, the immediate question was raised, "What are we going to use as bulls?"

Enter Archbishop Pummel and her clan of foul-mouthed, scar wielding, sex kittens on skates. Adorn their helmets with some fake horns, shove a wiffle ball bat in their hands and you've got yourself a few pissed-off Roller "Bulls."

Tracey doesn't skate anymore but she handles most of the graphic design work for Nola Bulls, and is grateful she works with such a talented group of characters. La Rebellina would also like to thank her El Consejero for all the adventures she's enjoyed and the many more to come. Ti amo, Irlandese piccante mio.

Contact Pastór Tracey