Rain Bird's Float Takes Top Honors
Rain Bird, an irrigation products manufacturer and service provider, was awarded the Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Trophy on Jan. 1 in recognition of its 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade entry, Entertaining Expedition.
Awarded to the float entry deemed the most beautiful by a panel of expert judges, the 2009 Sweepstakes Trophy win marks the 12th time in 13 years that Rain Bird has been awarded for its Rose Parade float entry, and the second consecutive year (eighth overall) in which the company has won the parade's top honor.
The company's float paid tribute to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth's inhabitants. In accordance with this year’s Rose Parade theme, “Hats Off To Entertainment,” the entry showcased an African safari as Earth’s purest form of entertainment while promoting water conservation and the preservation of endangered species and the habitats in which they live throughout the world.
"As has been the case with all of Rain Bird's previous floats, Entertaining Expedition focused on bringing awareness to the fragile ecosystem and inspiring the public to think about the actions we can take toward preserving our natural surroundings for the enjoyment of future generations," said Rain Bird's Director of Corporate Marketing Dave Johnson. "We always set out to make an 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 to use water more efficiently through the world's most watched parade."
On board the float were animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus, Ohio and host of Into The Wild; and Walter Crawford, founder and executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Mo. They were joined by Dewey, a bateleur eagle rescued by the World Bird Sanctuary.