Start planning early for the first rodeo of the spring season, Sunday April 2 in La Grange. You’ll see bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding, team roping and calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. And kids can participate in the famous goat scramble.

La Grange Rodeo events start at 8 a.m.; be sure to get there before noon to see the Queen Ceremony, and 1 p.m. is the Grand Entry. It’s all at the La Grange Rodeo Arena, overlooking the Tuolumne River canyon, just east of town.

Tickets for the La Grange Rodeo are $15 at the gate, $10 for kids 6-12, kids 5 and under are free. You can get pre-sale tickets for $12 and $8 from a member of the La Grange Rodeo Association, one of the Queen candidates, or selected local area businesses. Call for information: Mike Verdegaal 209-581-2420 or David Reynolds 209-262-7719.

Don’t miss the Rodeo Dance held Saturday, March 25 at the La Grange Odd Fellows Hall, 30018 Yosemite Blvd. in downtown La Grange. Live Music by Never Too Late, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $10, must be 21 or over. Rodeo Queen candidates will have Rodeo Dance tickets for sale as well. Call Sandi Casey, (209) 606-4311 or Norm Varain, (209) 916-5086 for more information on the dance.