Seven Central Wisconsin Firms Entered Manufacturing Contest
Local manufacturers hope to secure public votes to advance in a statewide competition highlighting industry innovation.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Consumer Goods
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Seven central Wisconsin companies have entered the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest, joining a pool of 108 nominees vying for state recognition. The firms are currently competing in an initial popular vote round that runs through September 29.
Why it matters
The contest provides local manufacturers with high-visibility marketing opportunities and industry benchmarking by showcasing regional production capabilities. Participating businesses are leveraging the popular vote to demonstrate brand loyalty and consumer engagement.
Seven central Wisconsin companies are competing among 108 total nominees in the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. The top 16 entrants will move forward to a bracket-style voting phase following the initial round.
The players
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce
A statewide trade association that represents business interests and manages manufacturing initiatives.
Apex Space and Defense
A Schofield-based manufacturer specializing in the production of composite driveshafts.
Wenzel's Farm
A Marshfield-based meat processor known for producing snack sticks.
Jacoby Custom Cues
A Nekoosa-based business that produces custom-made professional pool cues.
Stevens Point Brewery
A beverage producer based in Stevens Point with a long history of regional production.
The details
The competition, organized by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, highlights manufacturing output through a public popularity contest. Nominees such as Apex Space and Defense, Jacoby Custom Cues, and Wenzel's Farm are advancing their brand profiles by competing for votes. The 16 businesses that secure the most votes in the opening round will advance to head-to-head bracket matchups to determine the eventual winner.
Timeline
September 21 - September 29: First round of popular voting occurs.
September 30: Top 16 nominees will be announced.
October 2 - October 7: First round of bracket voting occurs.
October 27: The contest winner is announced.
Market Landscape
This contest follows the established pattern of the annual manufacturing recognition program led by the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. It serves as a regional benchmark for consumer-facing brands to prove product demand and market visibility within the state.
Operators in the state should track these bracket matchups to observe which local marketing strategies drive the highest volume of public engagement. Monitoring these results can help identify consumer trends in regional product preference for the upcoming quarter.
The takeaway
The competition offers a direct signal of which manufacturing brands are successfully capturing public attention in the regional market. Business owners should monitor the bracket winners announced on September 30 to identify effective consumer outreach models.
What happens next
The contest will announce the top 16 nominees on September 30, followed by the first round of head-to-head bracket voting beginning October 2.
Further reading
For more on industry benchmarks, visit the Consumer Goods section.
More information
To track voting or view participant details, visit the Official contest information portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wausau Pilot & Review.
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