Scarecrows in the Park Winners Announced

See the Scarecrows Now Through November 1 at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab

IRVINE – It’s official! Voting at the Great Park Pumpkin Harvest second annual Scarecrows in the Park contest was close by a margin of just three votes. The “Best in Crow” prize went to Indy Whips OC Traffic, presented by Stantec Consulting Services. More than 500 people voted on sixteen different scarecrows created and sponsored by local companies and community organizations across Orange County. The scarecrow contest raised thousands of dollars to help the Second Harvest Food Bank fight hunger and to support agricultural education programs at the Orange County Great Park.

Visitors to the Great Park Farm + Food Lab voted on their favorite scarecrow. The second top vote-getter, dubbed by the contest as “The Crop Defender,” was Scare-a-Grow, presented by the UC Master Gardeners and sponsored by the Orange County Farm Bureau. The third-place “The Crow Chaser” prize went to The Sprout Crows, presented by Sprout Healthy Vending. The “Critic’s Choice” award went to The Modern Scarecrows, presented by Venado Middle School and sponsored by WRNS Studio. Venado art teacher Kathy Holmes helped the students learn how to sew for this art project in the Park.

Visitors can see all the scarecrows on display at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab through November 1, or see the scarecrows at the end of this page.The scarecrows debuted during the Park’s annual Pumpkin Harvest event on October 22, which drew an estimated 12,000 visitors and brought in more than 4,000 pounds of food for local food banks.

“The Orange County Great Park plays an important role in fighting hunger throughout the county. Our Park Without Borders program has contributed more than a million pounds of fresh produce to local food banks and we regularly conduct drives to encourage the public to donate canned goods,” said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Corporation. “Scarecrows in the Park has fast become another way for local companies and organizations to work with local food banks to help fight hunger. We thank everyone who participated.”

All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation and picture of their scarecrow. Whole Foods Tustin, Orange County Heritage Museum and King’s Seafood Restaurant donated prizes for the top vote-getters. Participants will be publically recognized in a special ceremony at the Great Park Board meeting on November 17.

About Second Harvest Food Bank:
Since 1983, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County has provided more than 265 million pounds of safe and nutritious surplus food to now over 450 charitable non-profit organizations throughout Orange County. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is a certified Affiliate Member of Feeding America. For more information about Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County or to learn how to help, visit https://feedoc.org

About the Great Park
The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park features an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. Other features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The South Lawn lighted soccer fields and Community Garden will be added in 2012. For more information, please go to www.ocgp.org.

Top Finishers

First Place	Second Place
Name: Indy Whips OC Traffic! Creators: Stantec Consulting Services	Name: Scare-a-grow Creators: The UCCE Master Gardeners Sponsors: The Orange County Farm Bureau
Third Place	Fourth Place
Name: The Sprout Crows Creators: Sprout Healthy Vending	Name: The Modern Scarecrows Creators: Venado Middle School Sponsors: WRNS Studios

Participants

Name: Theres an App for That Creators: Forde & Mollrich	Name: Thought Bubble Man Creators: thinkASG	Name: The Man in the Park Creators: Burton Construction
Name: Mulch Monster Creators: Tierra Verde Industries	Name: The Bisnar Chase Crow Creators: Bisnar Chase	Name: The i9 Crow Creators: i9 Sports
Name: Scaring is a SNAP Creators: The Scotts Company	Name: Antique Tractor Exhibit & Scarecrow Creators: Orange County Produce	Name: Ameri-Can Soldier Creators: Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Sponsors: Seeds of Change
Name: Billy Maize & the Cornflakes Creators: Venado Middle School Sponsors: MCK	Name: The CDFI Crow Creators: Clearinghouse CDFI	Name: The Backyard Beekeeper Creators: Backyard Bees Sponsors: Dudek