FORSAN -- The privilege of being the only Texas high school band to march in the National Independence Day Parade July 4 has the 126-member Forsan High School Buffalo Band working feverishly to fund the trip.

Last summer's invitation from the U.S. Interior Department and National Parks Service carries a big price tag -- $145,000 for the bus trip to Dallas, jetliner flight to Washington, lodging in Alexandria, Va., touring national landmarks and other expenses.

Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys of Big Spring will stage a $10 a head benefit dance from 9 p.m. to midnight April 9 at Nix's hometown Stampede Club. "They've got a great sound, a great director and a lot of good kids," said Nix, who attended the band's Christmas concert last December.

"I really want this to do good for these kids because they've been invited to go and it's going to cost a lot of money," said Nix, noting this will be his first benefit of the year. "All of West Texas is welcome. I'd like to see the old Stampede running over that night."

Led by Director Jim Rhodes and assistant Jeremy Higginbotham, the band represents 75 percent of the total enrollment for the Class 2A school. It's conducting an online auction of an autographed Charlie Daniels fiddle, autographed posters of Alan Jackson, Martina McBride and Texas Tech quarterback Sonny Cumbie, a Buffalo-shaped trailer hitch cover and other items.

It is selling its own cookbook and band photos and on April 30 will stage a car wash, bake sale, entertainment and other events at the Big Spring Wal-Mart. The school's Web site is at forsan.esc18.net, bringing the band up through the "high school campus," "organizations" and "band" pages.

Forsan Superintendent Randy Johnson Wednesday said the parade will be broadcast on national television and seen by 400,000 spectators along Constitution Avenue from Seventh to 17th Streets in Washington. "The parade theme this year is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II," he said.

"Our school board looked at it as an incredible experience to go to a big city and have a once in a lifetime opportunity like this. They'll attend an orchestra concert that night with fireworks and the ocean in the background.

"Most of our kids would never have this opportunity except through an event like this."

Arranged by Music Celebrations International of Tempe, Ariz., the trip will also include 100 parents and school staff members. Johnson said $50,000 has been collected so far, so there is an urgency to raising the rest.

The Buffalo Band is one of the top 2A groups in the state, for seven straight years winning UIL sweepstakes trophies for excellence in marching and sight-reading and last year taking fifth place in the state marching contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Johnson said it was invited on the basis of recommendations from Texas high school band directors. The musicians and their chaperones will leave July 2 and return July 5.

The superintendent said Nix's benefit could prove a major boost because the Stampede Club has a capacity of 400 people. "Jody certainly has a good reputation in this area, and people really flock to his events," he said.

The online auction will be culminated at the band's 7 p.m. May 12 spring concert in the school auditorium. Forsan is 15 miles south of Big Spring and three miles east of U.S. 87 on Farm-to-Market Road 461.