Dobson Pipe Organ Builders make top 16 in Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — The field of candidates for 2024’s Coolest Thing Made in Iowa has been narrowed down to 16.

The top 16 products for the first annual contest were announced Wednesday by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI). They were chosen from a list of 68 , and they will be pitted head-to-head in a bracket with voting open to the public starting Thursday, May 2.

“This group of top 16 products showcases the diversity of Iowa manufacturing,” ABI President Mike Ralston said. “It is our honor to bring attention to all the cool products made in Iowa by Iowans.”

Custom built pipe organs from Dobson Pipe Organ Builders, Ltd . in Lake City were seeded at #2. According to the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa website , the business’ organs are handmade by 18 craftspeople for “churches, universities, performing arts venues and private residences” around the world. Dobson is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The show even received a name-drop in the Emmy-winning show “Ted Lasso.”

On June 15, 2021, the Dobson Pipe Organ Builders headquarters was destroyed by a fire. Lynn Dobson, the founder of the business, told KCAU 9 at the time that it left a “ real sinking feeling .” Despite this, the company decided to rebuild on the same site . The company is showing off the ongoing process on their Facebook page .

Below is the full list of products and matchups:

• #1 Vermeer ZR5-1200 self-propelled baler (Vermeer Corporation, Pella) vs. #16 Kreg Pocket Hole Jig 320 (Kreg Tool, Huxley)
• #2 Custom Built Pipe Organ (Dobson Pipe Organ Builders Ltd., Lake City) vs. #15 Life Line Ambulance (Life Line Emergency Vehicles, Inc., Sumner)
• #3 Inception Electric Fireplace (Hearth and Home Technologies, Mt Pleasant) vs. #14 Safe T Home (Sukup Manufacturing Co., Sheffield)
• #4 Musco Sports Lighting (Musco Lighting, Oskaloosa) vs. #13 MARSHALLTOWN Hamburger Trowel (MARSHALLTOWN, Marshalltown)
• #5 Explosion-Proof Electric Motor (Bodine Electric Company, Peosta) vs. #12 Gushers! (General Mills, Cedar Rapids)
• #6 Winnebago Revel (Winnebago, Lake Mills) vs. #11 World’s Best Cat Litter (KENT Corporation, Muscatine)
• #7 S-975 Express Plus Softmount Washer (Dexter Laundry, Fairfield) vs. #10 Butter Braid Pastries (Country Maid, Inc., West Bend)
• #8 See & Spray™ (John Deere, Ankeny) vs. #9 Tiki Bar Boats (Big Huts, Princeton)

Voting ends on midnight on Wednesday, May 8. Voters can vote once a day per device.

You can cast your vote by clicking here .

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