It's a Repeat! Rain Bird's
''Animal Ambassadors'' Float Takes Sweepstakes Trophy at 2002
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Leading Manufacturer of Irrigation
Products Takes Top Honors for
2nd Consecutive Year; 4th Sweepstakes Trophy Overall
Pasadena, CA (January 01, 2002) - Rain Bird Corporation,
the leading manufacturer of irrigation equipment, won the
Sweepstakes Trophy -- for the second year in a row -- for
its 2002 Tournament of Roses® Parade entry, "Animal
Ambassadors." The Sweepstakes Trophy is awarded to "the
most beautiful float" in the world-renowned event. This
marks Rain Bird's sixth straight award, and its fourth Sweepstakes
win overall since the company first participated in the celebrated
event in 1997.
"Animal Ambassadors," in accordance with the 2002
Rose Parade theme, "Good Times," brought a fun-filled
outing to the zoo to life. The 55-foot fully animated float
was designed by award-winning float designer Raul R. Rodriguez
and was built by the Rose Parade's leading builder, Fiesta
Parade Floats. Complete with cascading waterfalls, dewy mist
and brilliant flora, the impressive depiction featured the
powerful and majestic Bengal tiger and its reputation for
beauty, grace and intrigue that has fascinated people throughout
the ages. Amidst tigresses and their playful cubs were regal
cockatoos perched high in the lush vegetation, and whimsical
temple monkeys swinging through the tropical aquatic setting.
On board Rain Bird's "Animal Ambassadors" float
were animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the
Columbus Zoo and host of "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures,"
and Walter C. Crawford, Jr., founder and executive director
of the World Bird Sanctuary. Accompanying them was Xena, a
Eurasian Eagle Owl, one of the largest-sized owl breeds in
the world. Both Hanna and Crawford brought Rain Bird's important
message of wildlife and environmental conservation to the
2002 Rose Parade.
The floating zoo featured six separate waterfalls using over
1,500 gallons of flowing water held within a specially designed
chassis capable of supporting over 13,000 pounds of water.
To further create the feeling of spending a day at the zoo,
the float was equipped with an on-board audio system, further
accentuated by realistic animal movements made possible through
hydraulics.
"We are so very honored to have won the 2002 Sweepstakes
Trophy," said Art Ludwick, senior vice president, Rain
Bird Corporation. "Hundreds of our employees volunteered
thousands of hours to help realize the vision of Raul Rodriguez,
Fiesta Floats and Rain Bird. I am so proud of all of our volunteers
who worked day and night to produce such a beautiful float."
Rain Bird has won top honors previously, including the Sweepstakes
Trophy for most beautiful entry in 1998, 1999 and 2001, the
President's Trophy for most effective use and presentation
of flowers in 2000, and the Directors' Trophy for outstanding
artistic merit in design and floral presentation in 1997.
For more information on past entries, check out our Float
Archive.
ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
Rain Bird Corporation, based in Glendora, CA, is the world's
largest manufacturer of sprinkler and drip irrigation equipment.
Founded in 1933, Rain Bird offers the industry's broadest
range of irrigation products to golf courses, sports arenas,
amusement parks, farms and commercial and residential developments
in more than 120 countries around the world.
