Top 16 Announced for 'Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska' Competition

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Sept. 23, 2026 — The fifth annual Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska competition has unveiled its Top 16 products. From surgical robots to pain medication, participants now will decide which product will claim the 2026 title.

Voting is open for the first round of the bracket-style competition and will continue through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 4.  Advanced rounds will follow during the rest of October. Manufacturers, community members, students and all Nebraskans are invited to cast their votes for their favorite product each week. Round 1 votes can be cast here.

The competition, put on by the NE Chamber and NE Manufacturing Alliance, and presented by Pinnacle Bank, celebrates Nebraska’s dynamic manufacturing industry, home to more than 100,000 Nebraskans working in manufacturing every day.

Top 16 product finalists are:
• FiberCut – Bish Enterprises, Giltner
• Avail Tow Bar – Blue Ox, Pender
• Hi Rail Excavator and Snowblower – Ceres Group, Omaha
• Ram Air Turbine Hub – Collins Aerospace, York
• Nebraska License Plates – Cornhusker State Industries, Lincoln
• Modular Housing – Family Built Homes, Gering
• Fresh, Stone Milled Flour – Grand Republic Milling Company, Gering
• Excedrin – Haleon, Lincoln
• Precision Hunter Ammunition– Hornady Manufacturing, Grand Island
• TAU-XR – Lindsay Corporation, Lindsay
• Marble Pack-Off – Marble Technologies, Lincoln
• Nirbuilt Airboats – Nirbuilt Airboats, Ashland
• Animal Health IV Fluids – Nova-Tech, Inc., Grand Island
• Popcorn – Popcorn County, USA, North Loup
• PyraMAX Transmission Structures – Valmont Industries, Columbus
• MIRA- miniRAS – Virtual Incision, Lincoln

“Nebraska makes some incredible products, and the people who make them deserve to be celebrated,” said Joseph Young, NE Chamber President & CEO. “Manufacturing is a major economic engine for our state, supporting good jobs, strong communities and opportunities across Nebraska. The Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska lets us have some fun while telling a much bigger story: Nebraska manufacturers are innovative, competitive and making products that have an impact far beyond our state.”

The tournament will help celebrate October as NE Manufacturing Month. The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska will be announced October 29 at the NE Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista, where finalists will also be invited to display their products. Registration is open to the public and available here.

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