Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
An eclectic list of products made in Indiana that runs from toys, chocolate and bear deterrent to a pricey Batmobile and kitchen faucet are facing off to be the Coolest Thing Made in Indiana.
The bracket-style competition is back for its third year to celebrate the state’s long manufacturing history. Voting opened to the public Oct. 27; elimination rounds continue throughout November until the finals when votes for the winner are cast from Nov. 27-30.
Voting for the first elimination round ends today. You can head to the Indiana Chamber site and cast your vote.
The 2023 bracket of 48 Hoosier makers is a mix of large and familiar companies to emerging businesses and one-man shops. The list includes four companies from the Radius Indiana region – Kimball International and Abbey Casket, both in Dubois County; Dishmaster in Lawrence County and Angry Sturgeon Lures in Crawford County.
From hobby to business
Bob Sturgeon handcrafts wooden fishing lures at his home in English. The hobby became a business about 11 years ago after he posted photos of his lures to social media and began getting requests. He makes 3-inch crank baits using a variety of woods and he has a variety to choose from on his Crawford County property.
“Wooden crank baits have been around for over a century at least. But it’s hard to find a solid wood crank bait,” Sturgeon said. “Most are either balsa wood or molded plastic.”
Sturgeon makes each crank bait by hand but doesn’t whittle them, nor does he use anything automated like a CNC machine. He starts with a template and small blocks of wood.
Most wooden baits are painted. Sturgeon leaves his lures unpainted.
“That’s sort of my niche. I make lures to show off the beauty of the wood. They sell in art galleries a lot better than they do in tackle shops,” he said with a laugh.
Originally from Nebraska, Sturgeon moved to Crawford County a few years ago and now lives on land that has been in his family since the 1800s. As a recent transplant, he said he never expected to land on a list of coolest things made in the state.
“It feels pretty good to be included,” he said.
Companies in the Radius region
Here’s a look at the companies entered in the bracket from the Radius region.
Abbey Casket, Wooden Monastic Casket
- The simply shaped Monastic Casket is designed based on the casket the monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey are laid to rest in. The handcrafted Monastic Casket was the very first product sold by Abbey Caskets when it began offering caskets to the public in 1999. Each Monastic Casket is handcrafted by Abbey Caskets in St. Meinrad using locally sourced, top-of-the-line materials and finishes to achieve the highest quality. www.abbeycaskets.com
Angry Sturgeon Lures, fishing lure
- Robert Sturgeon manufactures hand-made, one-of-a-kind fishing lures from wood sourced from his family farm in Crawford County. It’s not simple whittling, Sturgeon has combined his 20 years manufacturing and engineering experience and artistic aptitude to produce something quite unique. Showcasing the beauty of Indiana’s variety of wood, each lure is a work of art, yet it is engineered to catch fish. His lures are sold through select retailers in several states and occasionally online. www.angrysturgeonlures.com
Dishmaster Faucet, Dishmaster M76 Imperial Four Kitchen Faucet
- The M76 Imperial Four kitchen faucet, “Your Kitchen’s Finest Feature” for 75 years, is a handheld dishwasher. While it functions as a standard kitchen faucet, the side spray also provides soapy water from the attached reservoir by simply pressing a button in the handle. With the attached brush you can scrap, scrub and wash your dishes clean then release the button for clear rinse water. The faucet requires no electricity and is suitable for countertop and wall mount installations. While we offer more modern versions of our Dishmaster faucets (all with the same soap & brush attachment) the Imperial Four’s classic style is the most popular model. It is especially coveted by the Midcentury Modern crowd who like to keep (or restore) their kitchens in the retro style of the 1950s, but it’s also a great feature in more contemporary kitchens. Dishmaster is manufactured in Mitchell. dishmasterfaucet.com
Kimball International, Looper Architectural Bench crafted from solid wood
- The Looper Bench was designed to pay homage to one of Michael Graves iconic architectural elements, the keystone, the central component of an arch. Like a keystone, the Looper Bench performs the task of supporting people and objects. With its continuous (looping) solid wood filament, the Looper Bench can be extended for a longer bench or shortened for an accompanying accent or coffee table. This product showcases the design and manufacturing capability that is rooted in Indiana. The product is manufactured in Jasper, known for its heritage in wood manufacturing. kimballinternational.com
Tournament details
Checking out the bracket is a fun exploration of manufacturing in the state. Most Hoosiers are familiar with Honda Indiana Auto Plant and Terre Haute’s Clabber Girl baking powder, but did you know Kraft Caramels are made in Kendallville or that an Angola company makes aquatic treadmills for dogs, horses and people?
Entered companies face off in a single-elimination bracket format with winners chosen through public fan voting. Each winner advances to the next round until the voting determines the coveted final four makers and an ultimate Coolest Thing Made in Indiana champion.