The Indiana Chamber has announced the finalists for its fifth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana tournament. After several rounds of voting, Elkhart Brass Manufacturing and Stone Horses have advanced to the championship round.
In the semifinals, Elkhart Brass Manufacturing prevailed over Goulding and Wood Pipe Organ Builders from Indianapolis. Stone Horses, based in Shipshewana, defeated last year’s champion Harpsicle Harps from Rising Sun.
Elkhart Brass Manufacturing is competing with its XD Glow-in-the-Dark Smooth Bore Nozzle, a tool used by firefighters. Stone Horses has entered its collectible model horse art, which is handmade in Shipshewana and shipped worldwide. The company highlights that each model horse is hand painted by local artisans and can be custom-made for individual customers.
“The competition this year has been extraordinarily intense, with a lot of hotly contested matchups,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “The result of that is two stalwart Hoosier makers squaring off to see who produces the coolest thing in this great manufacturing state. I can’t wait to see who wins, and the way votes have been coming in throughout the entirety of this tournament, I’m far from alone.”
The contest aims to highlight Indiana’s manufacturing sector through an online single-elimination tournament where fans vote for their favorite products. Details about contestants and their products are available on the event’s website, where voting will continue until 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 15 at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing.
Each new round resets previous votes so all remaining competitors start equally. Entry into the contest does not require companies to be headquartered in Indiana but mandates that nominated products must be manufactured within the state. Each company may enter only one product.
Previous winners include Hard Truth Whiskey Co. and Harpsicle Harps (2025), Hoosier Racing Tire (2023), Maple Leaf Farms (2022), and Janus Motorcycles (2021).
Awards for this year’s top finishers will be presented at the Indiana Chamber’s Best in Business Awards Luncheon on January 26 at the Indiana Convention Center.
