LATON - Hometowners and out-of-towners jammed the pedestrian walkway, marked by hundreds of lawn chairs under ample shade, and waited to cheer the much anticipated parade.

Then the horns of Laton Volunteer Fire Station trucks blared and the crowd shouted as the parade vehicles approached De Woody Avenue, one of the town's main streets reminiscent of the pioneer town that once thrived.

That meant one thing: The biggest party of the year for Laton had just begun.

On Saturday morning, the 43rd annual Laton Parade, in its usual way, set the mood for two days of festivities featuring the Laton Rodeo, which kicks off the rodeo season for the San Joaquin Valley.

"This is the biggest event for this town and for the Laton Lions Club," said Sonia Borges, a member of the organization which hosts the weekend of festivities featuring a rodeo.

"It's just a great way to get the community involved," Borges said. "We'd like to see a lot of families come out and enjoy."

In this sleepy farming town of 1,300 just north of Hanford, appreciation of the country-western vibe is almost de rigueur.

For Laton, where people show up wearing cowboy hats and boots, the Laton Rodeo Parade is an outlet for expressing their way of life - and their points of pride.

The parade wasn't long in distance or in duration, but it brought out 50 entries this year, starting with the 2007 rodeo queen, 16-year-old Pantara Whitney; and rodeo princess, 12-year-old Makala Davis, and former rodeo royalty.

The Grand Marshal, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, was followed by Oldtimers of the Year Harold and Bettie Newton, a couple aged 76 and 78, respectively.

Then came the country western fiddlers on a float.

As candies were thrown out to the street, kids rushed out to pick them up and chased the Laton Cubs float.

These were all part of the fun at the parade.

"It's real sweet," said Joyce Shankland of Hanford, who came along with her daughters to watch her 18-year-old granddaughter, Tiffany Ramirez, in the parade.

"It's really a nice little town parade. I'm really impressed by it," Shankland said. "Everything's changing in the world today, but we still have parades like this, which bring the unity of the community."

This year's parade winners were:

Commercial float: Friday Night Jam.

Non-commercial float: Selma 2006-2007 Raisin Royalty.

Comedy/novelty (10 and younger): The Next Generation.

Comedy/novelty (adult): Fresno Shrine Clowns.

Horse (adult individual): Brianne Nicole Mattos, Riverdale Rodeo Queen.

Horse (adult group): Kings County Sheriff's Posse.

Animal drawn: King Farms.

Antique vehicle: Marine Corps League - Kings County Detachment 455.

Vehicle other: Fun on Four Wheels.

Baton (10 and older): Celia Leon.

Vehicle (1978-present): John Monteiro, 1983 Chevy truck.

An even bigger event today is at the Laton Lions Club rodeo arena.

The highlight of Sunday's rodeo is the second annual professional "extreme" bull riding, starting at 1 p.m. The rodeo also features mutton busting for future cowboys and cowgirls ages 5 and 6. Rodeo gates open at 11 a.m.

"We got a really good response last year, when we did it for the first time," said Borges. "That's why we brought it back. We're hoping that it's something we can make a tradition for our rodeo."

A record-breaking 230 contestants have signed up for eight sanctioned rodeo events this year.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3059.

(April 1, 2007)