Nominations are being accepted starting August 17!
This marks the 5th year of this annual contest, celebrating the novel and needed products manufactured by people in our hometowns.
Wisconsin companies make an impressive and incredibly diverse list of products. Top goods include food and beverage products, as well as machinery and fabricated metal products - these categories alone account for nearly 1/2 of the state's manufacturing employment. Our state’s manufacturing industry employs nearly 1 in 5 Wisconsinites. And in 2018, 87% of our state's exporters were small businesses.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) along with Johnson Financial Group have partnered together for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. Previous winners have included the Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Kringle from Uncle Mike's Bake Shoppe (De Pere) and Oshkosh Corporation's Lite Tactical Vehicle (Oshkosh). With the inaugural winner being Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee-Eight engine assembled at their Pilgrim Road plant in Menomonee Falls.
Last year's winner, the Big Boy All-Weather Rifle by Henry Repeating Arms is manufactured in Rice Lake. It rose to the top of nearly 150 products nominated. Products have ranged from motorcycles, military vehicles, cheese products, boats, generators, food carts, iron castings, beer, all-terrain vehicles, snow blowers and more.
The contest will follow a progression similar to last year, where over 185,000 votes were cast. Beginning with a popular vote to determine the Top 16 products. From there, the Top 16 will be placed into a bracket-style tournament called "Manufacturing Madness." At this point products will compete against one another in head-to-head match-ups. Those products receiving the highest votes in each match-up will advance to the next round. This year's winner will be announced Wednesday October 14th.
- You can vote for your favorite daily, thru September 4th.
- Remember to come back starting September 14th to vote on your favorite of the Top 16.
Lets celebrate Wisconsin and increase the buzz around Manufacturing Month!!
Congratulations to all the nominees and Good Luck!
