What's the coolest thing made in Kansas? It could be one of these Salina products
Voting for the coolest thing made in Kansas is underway now with two of the nominations made in Salina.
The Kansas Manufacturing Council announced this week the products made in Kansas that are included in the 2023 Coolest Thing Made in Kansas - People's Choice Tournament.
Salina is represented well in the tournament with vinyl albums, made by Quality Record Pressings, and the Turbo-Max Vertical Tiller, made by Great Plains Manufacturing, among the products that make up the single-elimination tournament.
Council executive director Brandie McPherson said people in the state cast thousands of votes during the nomination round, which was narrowed down to 16 products that make up the tournament.
"The top 16 vote-getters are a great representation of the diverse items made in Kansas communities across the state," McPherson said. "We are excited to get this year's tournament started."
Pressing vinyl records in the heart of Kansas
Opened in 2011, Quality Record Pressings, one of the few remaining vinyl pressing plants in the United States, is a division of Salina's Acoustic Sounds, founded, owned and operated by audiophile Chad Kassem.
The pressing company uses vintage machinery and parts, along with modern technology added like microprocessors. According to the company's website, "Our entire focus is toward the goal of pressing the finest records the world has ever known."
This quality of vinyl pressing has been noticed by the music industry as well. Experience Hendrix, which manages the music of Jimi Hendrix, uses QRP as the exclusive pressing company for the musician's catalogue.
For the first round, QRP is facing Mars Wrigley, which produces M&M's Caramel Chocolate Candies at its Topeka plant.
Agriculture is big business in Kansas
Salina-based Great Plains Manufacturing, a leader in the tillage and seeding equipment industry, has continued to innovate and adapt to changes in the agriculture industry, and the Turbo-Max Vertical Tiller is an example of that.
"True vertical tillage has become the go-to method for yield-boosting seedbed preparation," Great Plains said on the online product page for the Turbo-Max.
The Turbo-Max offers vertical tilling options for all sizes of farming operations, with sizes ranging from 8 1/2 feet to 48 feet in length, according to marketing materials from Great Plains.
In the first round, the Turbo-Max Vertical Tiller is facing Alma Creamery's cheese curds.
More: Rock band Kansas will play two shows in Salina on its 50th Anniversary Tour. Here's when
First-round voting underway
Voting for the first round of the 2023 Coolest Thing Made In Kansas - People's Choice Tournament is underway now. For more information about the contest or to vote, visit www.kansascool.com.
Other matchups for the first round of the tournament are as follows:
Bourbon Whiskey, from Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City, vs. the Cat 994 Large Wheel Loader Bucket, by Caterpillar Inc. in Wamego
Cobalt Surf Boat, by Cobalt in Neodesha, vs. the Handy Hook, by Helten Panacea LLC in Garden Plain
Conquistador Wheel Corral, by MJE Livestock Equipment in Montezuma, vs. Soy Candles, by Kansas Earth and Sky Candle Co. in Ellinwood
Custom drum rollers, by Curb Roller LLC in Fairview, vs. The Beast Fire and Trail Building Hoe, by Prohoe Manufacturing LLC in Munden
Flytyme Water Slide, by Splashtacular in Paola, vs. the S-21 OUTBOUND Ready to Fly Plane, by Rans Designs, Inc in Hays
Landoll Traveling Axle Trailer, by Landoll Company LLC in Marysville, vs. Plainscraft Covered Wagons, by Plainscraft LLC in Topeka
First-round voting will close at 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22.
This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: The coolest thing made in Kansas could be from a Salina company
