RAIN BIRD WINS THE 2007
TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® JUDGES’ SPECIAL TROPHY AS
ITS ROSE PARADE FLOAT ENTRY NATURAL BEAUTIES IS HERALDED
FOR SPECTACULAR SHOWMANSHIP AND DRAMATIC IMPACT
The Irrigation
Leader Takes Home Its 10th Award in 11 Years Of Rose Parade
Participation As Its 2007 Float Drives Home The Need For
Environmental Preservation
Through The Intelligent Use Of
Water™
PASADENA, CA (JANUARY 1, 2007) - Rain Bird Corporation,
the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products
and services, was awarded the Tournament of Roses Judges’ Special
Trophy today in recognition of their 2007 Tournament of Roses
Parade entry, Natural Beauties. Awarded to the float
entry deemed the most spectacular in showmanship and dramatic
impact by a panel of expert judges, the 2007 Judges’ Special
Trophy win marks the tenth time in eleven years that Rain
Bird has been awarded for its Rose Parade float entry.
In accordance with the 2007 Rose Parade theme, Our Good
Nature, and Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to environmental
preservation through The Intelligent Use of Water, Natural
Beauties showcased a vivid array of impressive lifelike lizards
in a spectacular tropical scene featuring three separate
flowing waterfalls, including one with an amazing 15-foot
drop from street level, the highest ever to be featured in
the Parade’s 118-year history. In doing so, Rain
Bird used the award-winning scene to call attention to the
lizard’s innate ability to adapt, endure and thrive
in a wide range of climates and conditions.
“As has been the case with all of Rain Bird’s
previous floats, Natural Beauties focused on bringing awareness
to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of
the Earth’s inhabitants by calling attention to the
importance of adapting behaviors in order to thrive in ever-changing
environments," said Rain Bird’s Director of Corporate
Marketing, Dave Johnson. “We always set out to
make a dramatic impact with every one of our float entries,
and are delighted to be recognized by the Tournament of Roses
judges as we continue to bolster awareness of the need for
water conservation and environmental preservation through
the world’s most watched parade."
In addition to the 2007 Judges’ Special Trophy, Rain
Bird’s previous Rose Parade honors include Sweepstakes
Trophy’s in ’05, ’03, ’02, ’01, ’99
and ‘98, Grand Marshal Trophy in ‘04, President's
Trophy in '00, and Director's Trophy in '97.
On board Natural Beauties were animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna
(who has ridden on Rain Bird’s floats since 1999),
Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus,
Ohio and host of Into The Wild, and Walter Crawford (who
joined Mr. Hanna on Rain Bird’s floats beginning in
2001), Founder and Executive Director of the St. Louis, Missouri-based
World Bird Sanctuary.
Built by the award-winning team at Fiesta Parade Floats,
and designed by renowned float designer Raul Rodriguez, Natural
Beauties featured over 80,000 roses including some varieties
that have never been used before in the Parade’s 118-year
history.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Based in Glendora, CA, Rain Bird Corporation is the leading
manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
Since its beginnings in 1933, Rain Bird has offered the industry’s
broadest range of irrigation products for farms, golf courses,
sports arenas, commercial developments and homes in more
than 130 countries around the world. Rain Bird has been awarded
more than 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the
impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water™ is
about using water wisely. Its commitment extends beyond products
to education, training and services for the industry and
the community. Rain Bird maintains state-of-the-art manufacturing
assembly facilities in the United States, France, Sweden
and Mexico. www.rainbird.com
