Southern Minnesota represented in 'Coolest Thing' contest

From airplanes to twist ties, Minnesota is truly the land of 10,000 innovative and unique products.

To celebrate the wide diversity of manufacturing throughout the state, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has launched its inaugural "Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota" contest. After receiving well over 100 entries from companies located all over the state, it should come as no surprise to those residing in the area that four unique products have made it to the first round of finalists open for public vote.

A treadmill from Owatonna, cereal from Northfield and both blankets and a portable renewable energy unit from Faribault are all among the top 64 "cool things."

According to Jennifer Byers, a vice president with the Minnesota Chamber and head of the Manufacturers Council, it is no surprise to see a strong showing from southern Minnesota, as well as from all other areas of the state.

"Manufacturing is the biggest contributor to the state's [Gross Domestic Product]," she said, noting the Department of Employment and Economic Development reports more than 8,000 manufacturing companies in Minnesota. Additionally, those companies range in sizes, from just a handful to employees in a "mom and pop shop" to Fortune 500 companies.

Most importantly, Byers says, is the diverse products, truly highlighting the importance of Minnesota manufacturers.

"The cool thing about Minnesota manufacturing is that it is so diverse," she said. "You think back years ago when Michigan was all about cars, but Minnesota has always been diverse. From Food to agriculture to med tech to production equipment, the list goes on. It really represents the state economy and all regions of the state."

With more than double the entries than the 64 finalists that were announced this week, Byers said there is no shortage of "cool things" made in Minnesota. In fact, she believes they could host the contest for more than 50 years to highlight all the unique products being made in Minnesota today, not counting any new innovations that could come to fruition in the future.

"We have such a diversity of items, and we really didn't want to have all of one kind of thing. We'd love to feature every nomination we get … It was really hard to turn away anyone," she said.

Local 'cool things'

Out of Faribault, Trystar’s GridPak is a portable, renewable energy solution designed to meet diverse power needs with zero CO2 emissions. GridPak combines a formidable solar array, battery energy storage system (BESS), and LP-fueled backup generator into a compact, towable trailer, ideal for outdoor events, remote locations, and emergency response scenarios.

The GridPak offers flexibility and scalability, supporting various applications such as disaster response, electric signage, construction sites, portable illumination, entertainment venues, and military operations. Up to four GridPak units can be configured together to power complex systems, providing up to 120kW of continuous output.

The GridPak’s solar array auto-rotates to follow the sun, optimizing solar efficiency, and collapses automatically during high winds to ensure safety. Its weatherized design includes water-tight compartments for accessories and an optional cold-weather kit to maintain optimal battery performance.

Out of Northfield, Post Consumer Brands' Fruity Pebbles cereal is a sweetened crispy rice cereal with intense fruity flavor and vibrant colors.

The cereal has been "making mornings more fun" for kids and grown-ups alike for over 50 years, and was the first-ever brand created around a media character — named after Fred and Wilma’s daughter from The Flintstones.

Since 1971, the brand has grown to become the top selling kids cereal brand with more than 1.4 billion bowls eaten each year and sold in more than 50 countries around the world.

Out of Owatonna, Life Fitness' Symbio Runner is an immersive, innovative treadmill that features five firmness settings, allowing exercisers can feel the ground change beneath their feet. The Runner offers 100+ Interactive Terrains on console, while the Adaptive Flex Deck syncs with these interactive environments. As the terrain changes, so does the feel of the treadmill’s running surface. This allows exercisers to condition for different surfaces and adds training variety never before possible.

The Symbio Runner also allows exercisers to see their performance metrics on the screen as they are happening and receive guidance on how to be a more efficient runner and improve performance.​ Performance metrics track cadence, step length, ground contact time, flight time, left/right balance and Heart Rate Zones.

Also out of Faribault, Faribault Mill's Minnesota Map Blankets are a tribute to the state’s "most beloved" cities, lakes and rivers.

Made of premium Merino wools and luxury cotton, the throws have a soft and luxurious hand feel. According to Byers, Faribault Mill has been making blankets since World War I, providing them to military personnel.

"That's just a little company in Faribault, churning away while also renewing their national brand," she said.

Faribault Mill is Minnesota’s longest standing manufacturer, and has been crafting high-quality wool and cotton blankets at our mill in Faribault for over 150 years.

HOW TO VOTE

Voting is currently open online at mnchamber.com/coolest-thing-made-minnesota.

People can vote on the top 64 finalists through the weekend, with 32 "match-ups" taking place. On Monday, the top 32 will continue on with more public voting, with each week announcing the most recent match-up winners until the final winner is announced on Oct. 8 at the 2024 Manufacturers' Summit.

Users can vote once a day on each match-up.