Western Days parade starts hoedown

Nicolette Jones is an experienced pony rider.

Now she figures it is time for a horse.

"I've always wanted to ride a horse," said the 6-year-old Arbuckle girl, who found a spot atop a fire hydrant at Market and Fifth streets to watch the Western Days Parade.

Fifteen entries made up the parade, which kicked off the 15th annual event that started by the Colusa-Glenn Cattlewomen as a way to celebrate the western heritage.

"The cowboy life is dying off," lamented announcer Frank Torres, who came 600 miles to add his silky voice to the occasion.

Western Days continued into the night at the Colusa County Fairgrounds, with the popular celebrity penning competition, the start of the three-day Trade Show and a dinner and dance hosted by the Young Farmers and Ranchers — a group hoping to keep the heritage alive.

Decked out in her purple cowgirl attire, Nicolette would love nothing more than to be part of that western legacy.

"I've got my hat, but I don't have a horse," she said.

There were a number of other youngsters dressed in the western style, scattering for candy thrown along the parade route.

Under threatening skies, it was a sparse crowd that came out for the parade. But the rain held off and organizers are hoping for the same kind of cowboy luck through the weekend.

The Western Days run the next two days with a variety of arena events, as well as the popular Dutch-Oven Cook-Off at 1 p.m. today.

A $7 ticket allows visitors to get to taste the goodies.

Gates open for breakfast at 8 a.m.

The Stonyford Rodeo Queen competition starts at 9 a.m. in the T.K. Marshall Arena. The queen will be crowned at a noontime ceremony.

The team roping competition gets under way at 1:30 p.m.

A dinner and roping exhibition highlight the nighttime activities.

Roped into the day's event is the annual Family Faire at Festival Hall. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Everything gets started again at 8 a.m. Sunday, including more arena events and the BBQ Rib Cook-Off at 11 a.m.