(INDIANAPOLIS) — With interest continuing at an all-time high, the Indiana Chamber’s fourth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana tournament is down from a record 90 competitors to eight as fourth round action concludes and the fifth round tips off.

This year, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce is joined by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) in putting on the program, and tournament entries and interest have skyrocketed.

The eight surviving makers are from seven cities.

Remaining competitors, their home cities and products are:

  • Bear Wallow Distillery, Nashville, Hoosier Hooch Sugar Cream Pie Moonshine
  • Blue Fox Farms LLC, Wawaka, Dormant Native Plant Roots
  • Clabber Girl, Terre Haute, Baking Soda
  • Country Roads Coffee, Albion, Fresh-Roasted Coffee
  • Gator, Columbia City, Guitar Mini Vaults
  • Guardian Bikes, Seymour, Kid’s Bicycle
  • Hard Truth Whiskey Co., Nashville, Sweet Mash Whiskey
  • Harpsicle Harps, Rising Sun, Handcrafted Harps

Voting for the remaining rounds is as follows:

Quarterfinals: November 22-26
Semis: November 27-December 2
Finals: December 3-5

The remaining contestants, matchups and product descriptions can be seen on the event’s website. Fans and followers of the competitors can be part of the competition by voting online at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing. Voters must vote for all matchups in any given round in which they vote.

“With well over 10,000 votes cast this year, interest in this competition is at an all-time high,” says Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “And it’s no wonder. The array of products entered this year is spectacular, and we can’t wait to see who will be voted the coolest of them all.”

The IDDC’s “IN Indiana” marketing campaign is incorporated into this year’s Coolest Thing Made contest, which is run like a single-elimination, Hoosier Hysteria-style tournament.

New this year: The IDDC will produce high-quality videos showcasing the eight quarterfinalists, which those companies will be able to use for their own promotions – and bragging rights.

Entry in the contest is free. To participate, a company did not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the product entered must be manufactured in the state. Companies are limited to having one product nominated for entry.

Last year, Hoosier Racing Tire was crowned as the producer of the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana for its racing tire. Janus Motorcycles of Goshen took top honors in the inaugural competition, and in 2022 the Chamber honored Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg for its roast half duck.

Awards for this year’s top finishers will be presented at the 2024 Best IN Manufacturing Awards Luncheon on December 11 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

The Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana and Best IN Manufacturing endeavors are supported by spirit sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP), with gold sponsor Kalenborn Abresist Corporation and silver sponsors Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories and Kimball Electronics Jasper.

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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”