Rhythm of Life to Be Composed on Rain Bird's 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade Float Entry ``Springtime Symphony''.

News Editors/Business Editors

GLENDORA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 26, 2003

Rain Bird(R) Corporation:

-- Leading Manufacturer of Sprinkler and Drip Irrigation

Equipment to Trumpet the Importance of Water Conservation as

It Celebrates the Grandeur, Beauty, Harmony and Sounds of

Nature Through Its New Year's Day Float

-- Renowned Animal Experts Jack Hanna and Walter C. Crawford, Jr.

Return as Float Riders Aboard the 5-Time Sweepstakes Trophy

Winner's "Springtime Symphony" Float

Rain Bird(R) Corporation, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, salutes the Earth's most precious resources while communicating the importance of water conservation and environmental preservation through its 2004 Tournament of Roses(R) Parade entry, "Springtime Symphony." In keeping with the 2004 Rose Parade(R) theme: "Music, Music, Music," "Springtime Symphony" will bring worldwide awareness to the central and important themes that water plays in sustaining the vitality of all environments and their inhabitants. "Springtime Symphony" will showcase the grandeur, beauty and harmony of nature's annual springtime rebirth orchestrating the symphony of life. Featuring a family of newly hatched endangered Spotted Owl chicks nestled in the protective care of their parents safely perched in the crown of an oversized conifer tree, "Springtime Symphony" will depict the new and continuing cycle that awakes from a glistening spring thaw. As the snow melts, "Springtime Symphony" will unveil the magnificent colors and textures of a Grand Canyon Southwestern landscape high above one of earth's most precious water resources, the Colorado River.

A red-crested Pileated Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in North America, a pair of furry chipmunks and a curious Ocelot Cub will be seen exploring the blossoming majestic playground. "Springtime Symphony" is sure to be another crowd favorite as it travels down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, CA, on New Year's Day 2004.

Following in Rain Bird's proud Rose Parade tradition, "Springtime Symphony" will celebrate the company's commitment to furthering The Intelligent Use of Water(TM) worldwide and further demonstrate the company's devotion to nature and water conservation. The company's vision for The Intelligent Use of Water(TM) will again be the focal point, having served as the key message for each of Rain Bird's award-winning float entries. Rain Bird has been presented with the Parade's highest honor for the most beautiful float, the Sweepstakes Trophy, in 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999 and 1998, the President's Trophy in 2000 and the Director's Trophy in 1997.

"Each of Rain Bird's past 7 parade entries have been incredible to be a part of, and this year is no different. We are extremely proud of what we and Rain Bird as a team have accomplished," said Fiesta Parade Floats President, Tim Estes. "Rain Bird's colossal water features have become a Rain Bird Rose Parade float tradition, and always present exciting challenges when designing and building Rain Bird's float."

"Like music, communicating the importance of using water wisely and preserving the environment transcends across all boundaries. The magnificent species, flora and fauna that inhabit the Grand Canyon, as will be shown on `Springtime Symphony,' all depend on the extraordinary water and natural resources provided by the Colorado River," said Rain Bird Corporate Marketing Brand Manager Stacy Sharkey. "Consequently, the continued depletion of this great water source presents a serious threat to the vitality of the region -- making it a prime example for communicating the importance of conserving water by using it in the most efficient and precise manner possible."

Returning as float riders aboard "Springtime Symphony" will be animal enthusiasts Jack Hanna (who has ridden on Rain Bird's floats from 1999 through 2003), Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio and host of "Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures," and Walter C. Crawford, Jr. (who joined Mr. Hanna on Rain Bird's floats beginning in 2001), Founder and Executive Director of the Valley Park, Missouri-based World Bird Sanctuary. In addition, Zeus, an Eurasian Eagle Owl (the largest owl species in the world) from the World Bird Sanctuary will join the two riders as they bring Rain Bird's important message of wildlife and environmental conservation to the 2004 Rose Parade's global audience.

"It has become an annual tradition for me to mark New Year's Day riding down Colorado Boulevard on Rain Bird's float. I can't think of a better way to spread New Year's wishes, and important environmental messages to a worldwide audience," said Jack Hanna. "The 2004 Parade will be my sixth time as a Rain Bird `environmental emissary' which in itself is a great way both to celebrate the New Year and to convey the importance of preservation of the environment. As always, Rain Bird's float is a magnificent spectacle of wildlife and water."

Designed by the award-winning Raul Rodriguez the majestic scene will be brought to life by Floral Director Jim Hynd. Ironed red ti, magnolia and sea grape leaves highlighted with tufts of cornhusk, cordon puffs and pampas grass to create realistic coloration consisting of shades and textures of browns, cream and white on the owls. Sugar pine cone petals will be used to achieve a leathery appearance on the owl's legs, and the soft fluffy down on the baby chicks will be created with angel hair, sepia and Spanish pampas grass.

Individual feathers, cut from glossy black seaweed, will be used to cover the woodpecker with carnation petals forming its distinctive red crest, and the fuzzy fur of the young ocelot will be achieved by blending various shades of yellow, gold, orange and bronze strawflower petals. Hand-brushed palm fiber will create the natural fur texture on the chipmunks.

The conifer tree trunks will be created from strips of redwood bark and dark bronze chrysanthemums, that will be supported by the glistening snow mounds of crisp white carnations, dendrobium sprays, Alba cattleya orchids and thousands of Jack Frost and Eskimo roses. Spring meadows of tulips, alstroemeria, lily of the valley, freesia, bells of Ireland, forsythia, liatris, daffodils, muscari, hyacinths and roses will complete the woodland scene.

The 55-foot long, 30-foot tall float will feature eight separate waterfalls that will circulate over 1,500 gallons of flowing and cascading water, a signature element of all of Rain Bird's floats which highlights the company's veneration for water and environmental preservation. 24 high-pressure misting nozzles will enshroud the scene in a light fog, and a complex system of hydraulics simulates realistic animal movements.

In November, hundreds of Rain Bird employees, including top-level management and their families, began the process of applying hundreds of thousands of fresh flowers and other plant material to "Springtime Symphony," a task that takes 10,000 cumulative hours to complete. The Rain Bird float is always decorated entirely by employees, family and friends, and is a yearly endeavor that reinforces Rain Bird's company unity.

ABOUT RAIN BIRD CORPORATION

Based in Glendora, CA, Rain Bird is the leading manufacturer 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 over 130 patents, including the first in 1935 for the impact sprinkler. Rain Bird and The Intelligent Use of Water(TM) 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

EDITORS NOTE: For interviews w/ float riders, tours of the float decorating process, photos or artwork, please contact William Ostedt of The Pollack PR Marketing Group at 310-556-4443, Cell: 818-207-4058 or [e-mail].