For about 15 years, Todd Johnson, whose family owns Foothill Flowers in Grass Valley, has traveled to Pasadena to help decorate Rose Parade floats. It is an honor and endorsement of the quality of Foothill Flowers’ work.
This year, Todd again traveled to the Southland to help decorate floats for the 128th Rose Parade presented by Honda, themed “Echoes of Success.” He worked on two floats, and both won of them won major awards.
“Lucy Pet’s Gnarly Crankin’ K-9 Wave Maker” won the “Extraordinaire Trophy” for the “most spectacular float” — a big honor.
Lucy Pet’s 2017 Rose Parade float broke two Guinness World Records as the longest and heaviest float in parade history.
The 125-foot float carries a 90-foot-long wave tank containing 8,000 gallons of water and a wave-making machine capable of producing a perfect wave every five seconds. Eight surfing dogs ride the wild waves during the parade. The length and weight is 126 ft long, 148,200 pounds.
The goal of the Lucy Pet Foundation is to have spay/neuter and adoption mobile clinics in every major city in the country.
Todd also helped decorate the Northwestern Mutual “Waves of Hope” float, which won the “Animation Trophy” for “best animation and motion.”
The float showcases the company’s commitment to the fight against childhood cancer. It honors a mother-daughter duo who fought cancer together, the researcher who developed the treatment that saved both their lives, and a dedicated leader from Northwestern Mutual passionate about the fight against childhood cancer.
Northwestern Mutual is the sponsor of the Rose Bowl game.
