CONEJO COWPOKES RUSTLE UP FLOAT IDEAS.

Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer

The manager of the Borderline Bar and Grill has a plan for walking away from the Conejo Valley Days parade with a prize.

Joe Bucci and about 20 staff members and customers at the country-western nightspot are plotting out a float with a full band on a 40-foot diesel-hauled flatbed that will include line dancers, hay bales and maybe even a racing car.

``We're actually going to decorate the float this year - it's a lot of decorations that wins prizes,'' Bucci said.

Parade chairman John Stankiewiz has his own advice for walking away from the April 27 parade with an award: Think cowboy.

``There's a secret here,'' Stankiewiz said. ``The people who have been successful in terms of winning the prizes are wearing western outfits or decorating their vehicles with western motifs and trimmings.

``In some cases, they even have a hayride or a wagon. So these obviously get a lot of attention.''

Today is the last day to submit applications for the annual Conejo Valley Days Parade, themed ``Western Kicks in '96.'' The annual carnival and most events are scheduled for April 24-28. For parade information, call [phone]. For other information, call [phone].

About 100 parade entries including floats, drill teams, equestrians and other participants have come in so far, Stankiewiz said.

Entries are coming from all over, with a substantial number coming from outside the Conejo Valley, he said.``Some from outside even travel from Orange County to be in the parade, and some horse groups come from Santa Barbara,'' he said.