By Cindy Gonzalez
OMAHA — Grand Island produced the coolest thing made in Nebraska this year, so says the fourth annual manufacturing contest organized by the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
More than 40,000 votes were cast across multiple rounds that led to Monday’s reveal of the 2025 winner of the “Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska” competition: the AF Series Combines, produced in the Case IH plant in Grand Island.
Case IH representatives called the AF series their company’s most powerful machines, able to cover more acres in less time with the power and efficiency to handle any crop conditions. Designed, engineered and built by farmers, the combines were said to be packed with the latest in automation and harvesting technology.
The champion was announced during the Chamber’s Manufacturing Summit in La Vista. Pinnacle Bank market president Chris Conrad made the presentation, culminating a monthslong, bracket-style contest that has become an increasingly popular part of a month aimed at recognizing the state’s manufacturing industry.
Grand Island joined cities of Lincoln, Columbus, and Valley as host cities of Coolest Thing winners.
“Manufacturing isn’t just about making things — it’s about driving innovation, supporting growth and employing over 100,000 Nebraskans who do the work every day,” Conrad said of the award.
Courtesy of Sam Rice
Dustin Alexander of Case IH said the recognition highlights his team’s innovation and hard work. He called the AF Series a cutting-edge lineup of harvesting machines engineered for global performance.
“These combines can handle more than 180 crop types, making them a trusted solution for farmers in diverse agricultural landscapes around the world,” he said.
The contest kicked off in July. A statewide panel of business and nonprofit leaders picked 16 products from among a larger pool of nomination entries, and then public voting began in August to narrow the field to a final winner.
All 16 products were invited to showcase their wares at the summit, which coincided with National Manufacturing Month in October.
Last year, the Coolest Thing top honor went to Valley Irrigation’s center pivot irrigation machine. The year before that, the winner was Rocket Mobility’s all-terrain tracked wheelchair made in Columbus.
In 2022, the inaugural winner was Kawasaki’s subway car built in Lincoln to run on the rail tracks of New York City.
Also Monday, Lindsay Corp. was named Nebraska “Manufacturer of the Year” by the Chamber.
The award recognizes a company in the state that “pushes boundaries in manufacturing and enhances Nebraska’s competitiveness,” said Todd Bingham, chamber president and CEO.
“Being a global company, Lindsay Corporation still prioritizes its Nebraska roots,” he said of the company that started in 1955 as a farm equipment business in Lindsay, Nebraska.
“Whether it’s helping farmers conserve water through smart irrigation or protecting lives on the road with our infrastructure products, Lindsay is proud to make a positive impact here in Nebraska and globally,” said Rich Harold, Lindsay’s senior vice president of global operations.
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