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St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com  |
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ST. LOUIS, MO (SLFP.com) January 1, 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(R) 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. Guests 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, at Tyson Research Center in St. Louis, MO. 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. "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. Each of the float creatures was adorned with vivid flowers and pure natural fibers from the earth. The wild cats wore coats of gold strawflower petals and onion seeds with accents of yarrow, pampas grass and cordon blossoms. Similarly, cockatoo feathers were created from crisp white carnation and gladiola petals, while temple monkeys were artistically crafted using combed palm fiber and buckwheat seed. The float itself was generously covered with exotic flowers from all over the world. The tranquil surroundings of lagoons and pools were accomplished by a lavish floral presentation of purple Dendrobium and white Cattleya Orchids with Neon, Pavarotti and Ravel bright pink roses blanketing sculpted rock formations and garden beds. Exotic gardens exploded with color from Rainbow Obake and Midori Anthuriums, Cypripedium and hybrid Vanda Orchids, Kimi, Curcuma and Torch Ginger, Birds of Paradise, Angusta, Bihia, Pagoda Heliconia and tropical foliages and ferns.
"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.  City of St. Louis' Float Wins Mayor's Trophy ST. LOUIS, MO (SLFP.com) January 1, 2002 - The world of theme parks and the entertainment they provide was depicted on the City of St. Louis' float for the 2002 Tournament of Roses(R) Parade. The animated entry, with the theme "Too Much Fun, was powered along the parade route by a team of eight world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales horses. Six teamsters, along with two street tenders, manage the horses, which perform for audiences throughout the country each year. The City of St. Louis entry is the sole Rose Parade float never to be motorized. The marine animals were brought to life using Japanese seaweed, silverleaf, and sweet rice. The land animals were created from onion seed, sweet rice, uva grass, lentil seed, strawflowers, and cordome puffs. The safari wagon and structures were decorated with paper bark, strawflowers, sweet rice, statice, and a variety of seeds. Gerbera daisies, orchids, ginger, purple cabbage, and roses filled the perimeter gardens as music enhanced the theme park ambience. Sea World and Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina rode on the float, along with two of her animal friends.  The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group . |
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