ABI on hunt for Coolest Thing Made in Iowa

What’s the “Coolest Thing Made in Iowa” in 2025?

Is it a tasty pastry hand-braided in West Bend? An industrial pump manufactured in Cedar Falls and prized by chocolatiers world-wide? An Ankeny-built cotton picker probably used nowhere in the state? Or how about a “revolutionary” device created by a Red Oak family for cooking over an open fire?

It’s the second year of the competition dreamed up by ABI to highlight Iowa’s thriving manufacturing industry and the career opportunities it provides, according to Marketing and Communications Director Kelsey O’Connor.

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the sector employs more than 225,000 Iowans and contributes $42 billion to the state’s economy each year. “We just want to celebrate the industry and the Iowans who work hard every day and create these cool products. Sometimes it’s a whole product in itself or a portion of a greater product. These products are used in the state of Iowa, nationally and globally,” she said.

Nominations opened in early April with some 70 products submitted by the public for consideration. The competition tends to pit Iowa communities and employers against each other in friendly rivalry, Ms. O’Connor said. Manufacturers encourage their employees and residents of the towns where they are located to vote early and often to support their products. Members of the public were invited to vote once per day for up to four favorite products in a popular round in April, followed by two March Madness-style bracket rounds in May then a final round of popular voting ended June 3.

“We’ve seen an increase in nominations and voting overall, adding to the awareness of all the products and industries that are made here,” she said. The first popular vote round grew by some 9,000 votes over last year’s figure with, more than 83,000 votes so far.

Last year, the winner was the Vermeer’s zero-turn ZR5-1200 Self-Propelled Baler manufactured in Pella. Another major ag manufacturer, John Deere, is in the running this year with its cotton picker, but Ms. O’Connor stresses that the size of the company is not what matters.

“The perception from last year is that only the large companies make it to the final four. It’s really about how much you can get the community and employees excited. It’s the opportunity to talk about what your product does and how much it contributes to your community and Iowa in general.”

This year’s finalists range in size from the industrial giant Deere to the family-owned Moose Fireplace Grill with no employees, with the 90-employee Butter Braid® Pastries and 500-employee Viking Pump holding the middle ground.

The winner will be announced at ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference on June 11 in Council Bluffs.