The winner of the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin 2025 contest is made in Marion.
Search and Rescue 1000 Island Airboats, manufactured by 1000 Island Airboats in Marion, was crowned the winner at Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s annual Business Day event Oct. 23 in Madison.
1000 Island Search and Rescue Airboats, built in Marion, are especially designed for winter conditions. Utilized by municipalities and federal agencies to rescue individuals that are lost or in precarious winter conditions, the airboats can effortlessly transition from open water to ice and back again in heated comfort.
Nearly 150 products were nominated for the contest this year. After an initial popular vote round and a bracket-style tournament known as Manufacturing Madness, four finalists competed to ultimately take home the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin trophy.
The contest, celebrating its 10th year, draws attention to Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry. The industry contributes more than $73 billion to the state’s economy, accounting for almost 20% of the gross domestic product, and employs nearly one in six Wisconsin workers — more than any other economic sector.
WMC has partnered with Johnson Financial Group for each of the 10 years of the statewide contest, and the competition has drawn nearly 2 million votes from the public since its inception.
