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I wonder if people who think nothing cool happens in Nebraska have paid attention to the Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska contest, sponsored by the state’s manufacturing alliance.

ICYMI, here’s how it works. Manufacturers and related sectors were invited to nominate their favorite Nebraska-made product. The top 16 were placed in a bracket, with head-to-head voting taking place.

What products made the top 16? Chocolate Meltaways from Bakers Candies; M Grills Big M Smokers made by Kinney Manufacturing, LLC; all-terrain tracked wheelchairs made in Columbus by Rocket Mobility; pontoon boats from Pond-Tini; Flyover Whiskey made in West Point by the Flyover Whiskey company; Solutions plastic lumber from Firstar Fiber, Inc .; Invisi-Lug clay pavers made by Endicott Clay Products; Costco rotisserie chickens from Lincoln Premium Poultry; fire trucks produced by Danko Emergency Equipment; carbon fiber ducting from Royal Engineered Composites; geo-thermal greenhouses made by Greenhouse in the Snow; T-Rex portable basketball systems developed by Bison; ram air turbine hubs produced by Collins Aerospace; steel joists from Nucor; handcrafted soap and experiential bath products from Pacha Soap Company and Ignis firefighting systems made by Drone Amplified.

How many have you heard of? Or better yet, how many of these products have you purchased? I’ve heard of 10 of the 16 finalists. I should own stock in Bakers Candies ... we also have it for sale at the sidebar.

These 16 manufacturers will be invited to display their nominated product at the Nebraska Chamber Manufacturing Summit, in LaVista, next month and the top Nebraska-made product will be revealed.

In the hunt for the championship: Rocket Mobility and Drone Amplified. On Monday, I cast my vote. Have you? You can vote for your choice at https://www.nemanufacturingalliance.com/top-2-voting-2023.html.

What’s cool about this competition? First, it highlights the best in manufacturing in the state. While most people think of Nebraska as an agriculture state, it’s interesting to see the variety of industries impacted by Nebraska-made products.

The competition promotes creativity. Perhaps you have an idea that could translate into manufacturing, building a budding business here in the heartland. It makes we wonder what product could be produced here locally that may eventually land in a contest like this. All it takes is a little ingenuity. Clay Center, my hometown, was the starting point for Old Trusty Incubators. By 1924, the M.M. Johnson company produced more than 1 million incubators. The following year, the company launched KMMJ, one of the earliest radio stations in the state. That company’s story showcases why it never hurts to dream big. You never know when an idea may come to fruition.

I believe the competition also shows the importance of buying local, whenever possible. Supporting a local artisan, crafter, home-based or local manufacturer keeps dollars in the community and in our state. Nebraska manufacturers accounted for more than $13.5 billion in output in 2019. Nebraska manufacturers employ nearly 10% of the state’s workforce, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.

What Nebraska-made products do you think should be considered or what products didn’t make the list that should? Send your suggestions to me via email, [email protected].