State's best innovations battle in Kansas contest

By Scout Nelson

The Kansas Manufacturing Council, part of the Kansas Chamber, has announced the finalists for this year’s Coolest Innovation category in the Coolest Thing Made in Kansas contest. This annual event celebrates the creativity and technical prowess of Kansas manufacturers.

This year’s innovation finalists include the Cosmic Soil Moisture Monitor by Radiation Detection Technologies of Manhattan, the Stacker 8500 by Stinger, INC of Burrton, The Beast Rogue Fire Fighting Tools by Prohoe Manufacturing LLC of Munden, and the Command Center Tower on the OutStander Stand-On Mower by Grasshopper Mower of Moundridge.

Brandie McPherson, KMC Executive Director, expressed excitement about the final four, noting their role in addressing crucial challenges through innovative solutions. The competition started with 28 nominations, with these four outstanding products making it through rigorous rounds of judging based on detailed questionnaires about their innovations.

The judging panel includes industry experts such as Lafe Bailey from Bosh Advisory, Matt Cash from Forvis Mazars, and Tiffany Stovall, CEO of Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, among others. These judges will evaluate the finalists' presentations during the final round on October 8th at the Kansas Manufacturing Summit.

The contest is not just about technical evaluation; there's also a People's Choice category, allowing the public to vote on their favorite innovation. Voting concludes on the same day as the final presentations.

Winners of both categories will be celebrated at a special event on October 9th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, shining a spotlight on Kansas manufacturing and its contributions to both local and global markets.

Presented by Forvis Mazars, the Coolest Thing Made In Kansas contest was initiated in 2020 to promote the state’s manufacturing sector and to recognize products that stand out in innovation and market impact, demonstrating the dynamic nature of Kansas manufacturing.

Photo Credit:gettyimages-shotbydave