This Invention was Named the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Iowa’

You probably never considered just how many popular, nationwide products are made in the state of Iowa. Thankfully, a contest was established last year to highlight those very things. Recently, they crowned the winner of the 2025 iteration of the contest.

The "Coolest Thing Made in Iowa" is a contest featured 69 nominees on which individuals could vote. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) and MidwestOne Bank. The assortment of items on this year's list was both hilarious and informative, for there's a good number of products I had no idea were made in Iowa.

The Complete List of Nominees for the 2025 "Coolest Thing Made in Iowa" Contest:

Before we address this year's winner, let's look at the list of nominees. Per The Des Moines Register, this was the list of all the nominees in the "Coolest Thing Made in Iowa" Contest for 2025, including the respective manufacturer and the location of their headquarters:

The Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Is...:

After thousands of votes were counted, the winner of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Contest ended up being the CP770 Cotton Picker, manufactured by John Deere in Ankeny. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry announced the winner in June, and John Deere released a statement about the significance of the Cotton Picker itself:

Dedicated employees at Des Moines Works have been assembling cotton pickers in Ankeny since 1950. We will forever innovate on behalf of our customers, committed to delivering the world’s most advanced cotton harvesting equipment to their fields. Every day, our employees arrive with pride, eager to serve our customers. This award belongs to everyone who has contributed to the success of the CP770, from concept to fabrication, assembly to delivery, and everything in between. We all continue to push boundaries to better serve farmers around the world - Rosalind Fox, John Deere factory manager, per KCCI

Chip Reeves, the chief executive officer at MidWestOne Bank, one of the contest's sponsors, released a congratulatory statement too:

Congratulations to John Deere on your well-deserved recognition as one of the Coolest Things Made in Iowa winners. Your product is a proud reflection of Iowa’s innovation, manufacturing strength, and the talented individuals who power the industry. As a bank committed to supporting local businesses and communities, we celebrate your achievement and the positive impact you’ve made in our state - MidWestOne Bank CEO Chip Reeves, per KCCI

The Winner of the 2024 Contest:

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Last year, the ZR5-1200 self-propelled baler, manufactured by Vermeer Corp in Pella, was the champion of the inaugural contest. The baler is designed to automate much of the hay-baling process, which is an invaluable assist for livestock producers across the state. You can read more about the baler here.

Read more about John Deere's CP770 Cotton Picker, the winner of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa Contest, on KCCI's website.