Rain Bird Announces Its Participation in the 121st Tournament of Roses Parade with the Official Unveiling of Its 2010 Rose Parade Float Entry, Mountaintop Majesty

Tournament of Roses Officials Present Rain Bird with the Sweepstakes Trophy in Recognition of the Irrigation Leader’s 2009 Float Entry, Prior to the Debut of Rain Bird’s 2010 Float Entry

Animal Experts Jack Hanna and Walter Crawford to Return as Float Riders in 2010

AZUSA, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, officially announced its participation in the 121^st Tournament of Roses® Parade today with the unveiling of its 2010 Parade float entry, Mountaintop Majesty, in a ceremony held at Rain Bird’s corporate headquarters in Azusa, Calif. Prior to the unveiling, Tournament of Roses officials presented Rain Bird with the Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Trophy, awarded to the float entry deemed the most beautiful, in recognition of the company's 2009 float, Entertaining Expedition, that showcased an African safari while promoting water conservation and the preservation of endangered species through The Intelligent Use of Water™.

“The Tournament of Roses Parade is a perfect fit for Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to environmental preservation and The Intelligent Use of Water™, as there is no better stage to bring worldwide focus to the importance of adapting behaviors in order to conserve Earth’s most precious natural resource”

The award is Rain Bird's eighth Sweepstakes Trophy and 12th overall Rose Parade® trophy (Judge’s Special Trophy in ’07; Grand Marshall's Trophy in '04; Sweepstakes Trophy in '98, '99, '01, '02, '03, ’05, ’08 and ‘09; President's Trophy in '00; and the Director's Trophy in '97) since 1997, the first year that the company participated in the New Year's Day tradition.

Following the awarding of the 2009 Sweepstakes Trophy, float designer Raul Rodriguez joined Fiesta Parade Floats president Tim Estes, floral director, Jim Hynd and Rain Bird’s director of corporate marketing, Dave Johnson, to unveil a full color rendering of Mountaintop Majesty, Rain Bird’s 2010 float entry. Mountaintop Majesty depicts a family of Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat, while drawing attention to the need for the preservation of endangered species and the habitats in which they live throughout the world.

Water, a signature element of all of Rain Bird’s floats, will be prominently featured on Mountaintop Majesty with 1,500 gallons of flowing recycled water cascading over numerous waterfalls as a family of striking gorillas frolic in a brilliant display set in the mountainous regions of Africa.

“The Tournament of Roses Parade is a perfect fit for Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to environmental preservation and The Intelligent Use of Water™, as there is no better stage to bring worldwide focus to the importance of adapting behaviors in order to conserve Earth’s most precious natural resource,” said Rain Bird’s Director of Corporate Marketing, Dave Johnson. “These beautiful creatures are the closest living relatives to humans, and they are struggling to avoid extinction as their habitat faces destruction. Mountaintop Majesty is a celebration of our planet and the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants.”

Rain Bird also announced the return of its float riders, animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna (who has ridden on Rain Bird’s floats from 1999 through 2009), 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 World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rain Bird’s participation in the annual Tournament of Roses Parade is only one example of how the company’s focus on water conservation extends beyond products and services. Rain Bird devotes significant resources to its Intelligent Use of Water public initiatives, which include a series of white papers, public service announcements, membership on the Alliance for Water Efficiency and the steering committee advising the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its WaterSense product labeling program, bi-annual Intelligent Use of Water Summits, The Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition, partnerships with non-profit organizations, development and support of elementary and middle school curriculums and The Intelligent Use of Water Award program that recognizes leaders in water conservation.

ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION

Based in Azusa, Calif., 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 http://www.rainbird.com.