2024 Coolest Kansas Innovation Category Down to Final Four
Four Kansas manufacturers have advanced to be this year's Coolest Innovation made in Kansas.
This is one of two categories in Kansas Manufacturing Council's (KMC) — an affiliated program of the Kansas Chamber — Coolest Thing Made In Kansas contest.
The four products advancing to the innovation finals are:
Cosmic Soil Moisture Monitor by Radiation Detection Technologies, Manhattan
Stacker 8500 by Stinger, INC, Burrton
The Beast Rogue Fire Fighting Tools by Prohoe Manufacturing LLC, Munden
Command Center Tower on the OutStander Stand-On Mower By Grasshopper Mower, Moundridge
"Congratulations to our final four coolest innovations," said KMC Executive Director Brandie McPherson. "This category highlights the many ways Kansas manufacturers research and develop new products and work to improve products to address crucial challenges. We look forward to learning more about the final four products."
The contest began with 28 nominated products. Twelve moved on to the first round of judging by completing a questionnaire detailing their innovations. A panel of judges reviewed the questionnaires and then ranked the products for their innovative solutions.
The judges for the 2024 contest are:
Lafe Bailey, Founder, Bosh Advisory
Matt Cash, Partner, Forvis Mazars
Cynthia Enright, Partner, iValuation
Karma Mason, Founder, iSi Environmental
Doug Stucky, Director and Assistant Dean, WSU College of Innovation & Design
Tiffany Stovall, CEO, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions
During the final round on October 8th at the Kansas Manufacturing Summit, the four companies will make in-person presentations about their innovations. The judges will choose the winning product based on a criteria that includes its impact on the challenge it solves as well as the impact it has on the business, its employees and customers.
The contest also features the People's Choice category, a bracket-style tournament currently in its final round of voting. Voting for the finals ends Tuesday, October 8th at 7:00 pm CT.
Winners for both categories will be announced during the summit on Wednesday, October 9th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita.
Presented by Forvis Mazars, the KMC launched the Coolest Thing Made In Kansas contest in 2020 to promote and elevate Kansas manufacturers and to highlight products developed and produced in Kansas and distributed across the U.S. and internationally.
