“Egg”citing Easter Egg event to be held at Banner Estrella Medical Center

PHOENIX (Jan. 1, 2009) – Nine local artists across Arizona and their egg creations will be judged at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7 in the main lobby of Banner Estrella Medical Center. The artists will be competing for the chance to represent Arizona at the annual White House Easter Egg competition in Washington D.C. This is the fifth year that the hospital has hosted the event. All eggs will be on display at the hospital starting at 6:30 a.m.

Hickman’s Family Farms, the sponsor of the event, has organized the contest to allow professional and amateur artists to decorate an egg that best represents the state of Arizona. Decorators are required to use only Hickman Large chicken eggs, with contents removed, and the small end of the egg pointed up. Hickman’s will be making a donation to Banner Estrella’s Wee Care program, which provides families in need with clothing and blankets for newborns.

“Banner Estrella has been so good to allow us to hold our competition here every year, we wanted to give something back to the ‘new eggs’ they deliver here at the hospital,” said Sharman Hickman, spokeswoman for Hickman’s Family Farms.

Dr. Charlie Agee, Banner Estrella’s chief medical officer, will be one of several judges on hand to select the winning egg. Others include four-time judge Arlene Kulzer, Arrowhead Community Bank; Carole De Cosmo, Four Rivers Farming Heritage Center; and a special appearance by Howard Helmer, the Guinness World Records “World’s Fastest Omelet Maker.” Helmer will be cooking up omelets for all attendees.

The winner will be invited by the White House to attend the presentation ceremony and have a photo opportunity with First Lady Michelle Obama during the 2009 White House Easter festivities.

Banner Estrella Medical Center, located on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 Freeway and Thomas Road, is a 214-bed full-service, non-profit hospital offering general surgery, orthopedics, women and infants services, a full cardiac program with open-heart surgery, emergency services, and imaging services. Banner Estrella is part of Banner Health, the leading provider of health care services in the Valley with 10 hospitals. For more information, visit us online at www.BannerHealth.com.

Buckeye-based Hickman’s Family Farms has been family-owned and operated since 1944. Today, they are Arizona’s only chicken egg producer.