OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – As the state begins the annual search for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin, a number of local companies have tossed their hats in the ring.
Generally, when people are thinking about the coolest things made in the state – minds go towards high-tech gadgets, robots, and other futuristic manufacturing. The 4th generation Flex Farm from Fork Farms, which is headquartered at Titletown Tech, is in the running.
“So it essentially grows over 20 pounds of fresh leafy greens indoors and just less than 10 square feet of space…Just about increasing access to local fresh foods for community organizations, schools, nonprofits, businesses, food service, restaurants, and the like…Highly nutritious clean fresh foods that can sustain people year-round, especially in Wisconsin where we have a really short growing season,” said Community Engagement Director Megan Pirelli. “It’s used in the classroom so kids not only get to eat and consume these fresh, healthy foods. They get to learn about the growing process and engage with it and see how things start from seed all the way until they’re ready to end up on their plate…So it’s just a really neat engagement point and really just the opportunity for people to make a significant impact both in their lives and lives of other people. How is that not the coolest thing?”
The units start around $4,600. About 98% of the system is made by other manufacturers in the state as well. The start-up officially launched in Appleton before moving main operations to Titletown.
Pirelli hopes the contest helps them spread the word of what they’re doing and their mission, as well as let people know a product like this is actually being made right here in Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, one of their competitors in the contest is from Oshkosh. But Lakeside Plastics has a different idea of what ‘Cool’ can be. But they do have a point.
“Certainly, we have a bias here. We think traffic cones are a lot cooler than probably most people in the public do, but that’s how we put food on the table,” said Sam Seibold, a third-generation employee, and technical salesman. “I don’t think a day goes by where you don’t see them. So, just the abundance of them – they’re all over the nation, all over the world…We have products in just about every state, multiple different countries, and I think that’s pretty cool. It’s a big footprint that our small company leaves on the nation and even globally.”
Seibold entered the traffic cones into the contest himself, saying he figured it would be a fun marketing tool if nothing else. However, he’s still pushing for the cones to get some votes among some seriously tough competition.
“I think it would make morale very high all the way from the owners, to people in the office, to people in the shop. I think the whole the whole company is pretty excited about this,” Seibold told WTAQ News. “There’s actually some pretty impressive stuff that I had no idea our state made, so it’s kind of cool seeing what our state manufactures and gives to the open market.”
Both of these entries are from the neighborhoods of previous winners, like Oshkosh Corporation’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle in 2017 and Uncle Mike’s Bake Shoppe’s Sea Salt Caramel Pecan Kringle in 2018.
To check out all of the contestants or cast your vote, click here.
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