GIVE 'ER ZING. An Eau Claire-made condiment – pictured – and Eau Claire-made bridge are in the running for the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. (Photos via Facebook)

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) recently announced this year’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin nominees, and a few familiar items made the list.

Of the 140-plus item list spotlighting Wisconsin-made products, these Chippewa Valley ones are in the running: Silver Spring Foods, Inc.’s Cranberry Horseradish (Eau Claire) and Veritas Steel’s Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge (Eau Claire). 

Other notable things in the running include a John Deere Gator vehicle (Horicon), Kikkoman Soy Sauce (Walworth), Ocean Spray Craisins (Wisconsin Rapids), Sargento's Natural American Sliced Cheese (Plymouth), Sprecher Soda (Glendale), and Carbliss (Kiel).

Veritas Steel, based in Eau Claire, crafted what is now the Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge (pictured during construction).

Product nominations closed Sept. 12 with the first round of voting open now through Sept. 30. On Oct. 1, the top 16 nominees will be announced, followed by the first round of tournament-style bracket voting Oct. 2-7. After a few more rounds of voting to determine the top 8 and top 4 nominees, the final round of voting to crown the winner will take place Oct. 16-23.

The annual competition aims to bring attention to the state’s manufacturing industry –Wisconsin’s top industry; manufacturing contributes roughly $72 billion to the economy and support half a million jobs according to WMC. The ultimate prize? Bragging rights (and a whole lot of engagement).

Over the last decade, winners have included the Milwaukee Eight Engine by Harley-Davidson (Milwaukee); Jolly Good Soda by Krier Foods (Random Lake); and the 140 Ton Navy Crane by Broadwind Heavy Fabrications (Manitowoc).

View the full 2025 nominee list online • Learn more about the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest and vote online at madeinwis.com • Find more information about Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce online