A GOOD ASS DAY TO WIN. The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest is determined by voters each year, highlighting a huge range of state-made products. Dry shampoo made by Eau Claire-based A Good Ass Day is in the running. (Photo via agoodassday.com)

The 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest is officially on! The tournament-style bracket, whose finalists are determined by voters, is set to crown the Coolest Thing in October. More than 120 Wisconsin-made products are currently in the running, including Eau Claire-based hair care brand A Good Ass Day’s Dry Shampoo.

Currently, there are about 120 products competing for votes, and the top 16 will duke it out for the title of Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin. Familiar favorites and other Chippewa Valley-area goods in the running include Moose Lake Mustard (Chetek); Aircraft Paint Booth (Osseo); and the bottle label for Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest Beer (printed in La Crosse).

Also, UW-Madison’s Bucky Badger mascot costume? It’s made in Milwaukee.

Product nominations closed on Sept. 6 with the first round of voting currently open until Tuesday, Sept. 24. You can vote once per day for free at madeinwis.com.

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, the Top 16 will be announced and the first round of bracket voting will run Sept. 26 to Oct. 1. After that, the bracket will be whittled down to the Top Eight and the Top Four, with the winner announced on Thursday, Oct. 17. 

The contest, conducted by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and sponsored by Johnson Financial Group, aims to highlight Wisconsin’s multibillion-dollar manufacturing industry. Over the years, winners have included the Milwaukee Eight Engine by Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee); Pierce Manufacturing’s electric fire truck (Oshkosh); the sea salt caramel pecan kringle from Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe (De Pere); and others.

Learn more about the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest and vote at madeinwis.com • Find more information about Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce online