John Deere’s high-tech CP770 cotton picker has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) announced.
ABI, in partnership with MidWestOne Bank, revealed the winner of the second annual award at a luncheon Wednesday, June 11, during ABI’s Taking Care of Business Conference in Council Bluffs.
John Deere Des Moines Works in Ankeny manufactures the CP770 cotton picker.
“Dedicated employees at Des Moines Works have been assembling cotton pickers in Ankeny since 1950,” Rosalind Fox, John Deere factory manager, said in a new release. “We will forever innovate on behalf of our customers, committed to delivering the world’s most advanced cotton harvesting equipment to their fields.
“Every day, our employees arrive with pride, eager to serve our customers,” Ms. Fox added. “This award belongs to everyone who has contributed to the success of the CP770, from concept to fabrication, assembly to delivery, and everything in between. We all continue to push boundaries to better serve farmers around the world.”
69 products nominated
The Deere product emerged the winner after 69 Iowa-made products were initially nominated. Nominees represented manufacturers from 51 Iowa communities. After the first public voting round and a head-to-head bracket-style tournament, four finalists competed for the title. More than 93,000 votes were cast throughout the contest. That demonstrated the pride Iowans have in the products made in their state, the release said.
In addition to John Deere’s cotton picker, the final four also included these Iowa-made products and companies: Butter Braid Pastry, produced by Country Maid, Inc., in West Bend; CHC Chocolate Pump, Viking Pump, Inc. of Cedar Falls; and The Moose Fireplace Grill manufactured by The Moose Fireplace Grill, LLC, Red Oak.
“Congratulations to John Deere on your well-deserved recognition as one of the Coolest Things Made in Iowa winners,” Chip Reeves, CEO of MidWestOne Bank, said in the release. “Your product is a proud reflection of Iowa’s innovation, manufacturing strength, and the talented individuals who power the industry.”
Mr. Reeves added “As a bank committed to supporting local businesses and communities, we celebrate your achievement and the positive impact you’ve made in our state.”
ABI President Nicole Crain, who was promoted to replace Mike Ralston, who retired late last year, also shared her gratitude for the agricultural manufacturing giant’s place in Iowa history.
“ABI has proudly supported Iowa’s manufacturing industry for more than a century, and companies like John Deere are a big part of that story,” Ms. Crain said.
“From early cotton pickers to today’s high-tech CP770, John Deere represents how Iowa manufacturers continue to evolve, innovate, and lead.”
She added: “Just like the industries we serve, ABI has grown and adapted – always with a focus on supporting the people, products, and progress that drive our state forward.”
About ABI, Coolest Thing
ABI launched the Coolest Thing Made in Iowa contest in 2024, in part, to showcase the vast diversity of products made in Iowa and to celebrate an industry that employs 225,000 workers statewide and pumps $38 billion into Iowa’s economy.
The initial winner was Vermeer Corporation’s ZR5-1200 self-propelled baler made in Pella. ABI announced the honor on June 5, 2024 at its Taking Care of Business Conference at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport.
Founded in 1903, ABI’s mission is to provide a strong, unified voice to business and industry on issues affecting Iowa employers. ABI’s member companies represent all industries and sizes in Iowa’s 99 counties. Collectively, ABI members employ more than 330,000 Iowans.
