SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – The sixth annual "Makers Madness" contest is down to the Top 8.
Nearly 100,000 votes were cast this round, narrowing the field in the competition to find The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. The bracket-style tournament is hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Presented by Comcast Business, the competition celebrates the incredible work of manufacturers across Illinois.
More than 250 unique products from across the state were nominated for the 2025 title of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.
The Top 8 include:
- Gindo’s Spice of Life made by Gindo’s in St. Charles
- Aerial Firefighting Pump manufactured by MTH Pumps in Plano
- Chef Heatly’s Hot Pepper Farm Salsa made by Chef Heatley in Sandwich
- Joint Combined Aircrew Systems Tester manufactured by Chemring Energetic Devices in Downers Grove
- Lagomarcino’s Chocolates made by Lagomarcino’s Confectionary in Moline
- Donor Milk made by Mother’s Milk Bank of Western Great Lakes in Elk Grove Village
- Whiskey Acres Blue Popcorn Bourbon manufactured by Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. in DeKalb
- ROV Skimmer – Remote Operated Oil Skimmer manufactured by Elastec in Carmi
“Makers Madness is a celebration of the incredible products made right here in Illinois, highlighting the unparalleled level of creativity and innovation that distinguishes our state’s manufacturing industry,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “We wish all of the contestants the best of luck as the search continues for the product that will earn the 2025 title of the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”
The Makers Madness Top 8 matchups are as follows:
Bracket A:
(1) Gindo’s Spice of Life (Gindo’s, St. Charles) v. (3) Aerial Firefighting Pump (MTH Pumps, Plano)
Bracket B:
(1) Chef Heatly’s Hot Pepper Farm Salsa (Chef Heatley, Sandwich) v. (3) Joint Combined Aircrew Systems Tester (Chemring Energetic Devices, Downers Grove)
Bracket C:
(4) Lagomarcino’s Chocolates (Lagomarcino’s Confectionary, Moline) v. (3) Donor Milk (Mother’s Milk Bank of Western Great Lakes, Elk Grove Village)
Bracket D:
(1) Whiskey Acres Blue Popcorn Bourbon (Whiskey Acres Distilling Co., DeKalb) v. (3) ROV Skimmer – Remote Operated Oil Skimmer (Elastec, Carmi)
Voting for this round is now open and will take place at www.makersmadnessil.com through 11:59 p.m. on March 30.
Voters may cast one vote per day in each of the four head-to-head matchups between individual products.
Consecutive rounds of voting will take place each week, with vote totals reset to zero at the beginning of each round.
The contest will end with an awards ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion on April 9 when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.
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