By Kim McDarison
Members of the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce gathering Tuesday at Carla’s Catering, 1525 Janesville Ave., were among the first to learn the winners of this year’s “Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson” competition.
Marking the fourth year the competition has been held, this year the title, in the category of small manufacturer, defined as one having fewer than 50 employees, went to Hippychick Penny’s Soaps and Body Care for its skincare line.
Receiving the title for a large manufacturer, defined as one having more than 50 employees, was Jones Dairy Farm, recognized for its dry aged bacon, all-natural sausage and naturally smoked ham.
Before the winners were announced, Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Manager Katie Carey told those in attendance that the competition was developed in conjunction with Manufacturing Month, celebrated nationally in October, as a means by which to recognize the achievements of manufacturers, while also highlighting the diversity of the products they create.
“To increase awareness of Fort Atkinson products and the modern technology needed to produce them, the chamber … hosts the Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson competition,” Carey said.
In early October, the chamber announced its competition, noting in a press release, that the public was invited to nominate candidates to receive the award through an online porthole. Voting remained open through Oct. 31.
Johnson Financial Group and the chamber co-sponsored the event, the press release announced.
During Tuesday’s event, Carey noted that several area businesses had been nominated for the titles.
Within the small manufacturing category, along with Hippychick, those nominated, including product and manufacturer, were: The Complete Edition by Nicholson’s Peerless Transparent Watercolors, screen printed sprits bottles by ink360, and screen printed Fort Atkinson t-shirts by Brindle Ink.
Within the large manufacturing category, nominated, along with Jones Dairy Farm, including product and manufacturer, was IPEC’s super skids.
During the presentation, event-goers learned that Hippychick Penny’s uses product ingredients and packaging materials sourced through small businesses in the Midwest. Hippychick Penny’s soaps were also recently nominated for inclusion in a similar statewide competition, Carey said. The products can be found at Tuttle’s Hallmark Shop in Fort Atkinson and online, Carey continued.
Sharing information about Jones Dairy Farm, Carey said the company’s products that were recognized Tuesday were sold in stores in 21 countries. The company is celebrating 132 years of history as a family-owned business. While the company honors its time-tested traditions and recipes, it also continues to innovate and grow on an international level, Carey said.
Pictures from the event follow.
Members of Jones Dairy Farm on hand Tuesday — and joined by members of the event’s co-sponsor, Johnson Financial Group — receive a trophy along with the title of Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson in the large manufacturing category. The event was held at Carla’s Catering in Fort Atkinson. Jenna Broege, sales and marketing specialist with Jones Dairy Farm, holds the trophy. Other’s pictured include Diane Rue, vice president and senior mortgage loan officer with Johnson Financial Group, front, right; and, back row, from left: chamber ambassador and Jones Dairy Farm sales coordinator Jeanne Schulenburg, Jones Dairy Farm Vice President of Manufacturing Jeff Theder, and Johnson Financial Group Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager in Fort Atkinson Robert Cassiday.
Marissa Weidenfeller, School District of Fort Atkinson communications and community engagement specialist, at center, is the winner of the night’s 50/50 raffle. Her prize was $200. She is flanked to her left by Jillian Theder, a teaching assistant at Learning Links Child Care Center in Jefferson, who drew the winning number. Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carrie Chisholm holds the bowl from which the winning ticket was drawn.
Carla Robinson Stewart, owner of Carla’s Catering, at right, engages with event-goers. A colorful and bountiful arrangement of food was created for the event by the catering company. The event was held at the company’s Janesville Avenue location which opened in January.
Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce member and Mary Kay cosmetics representative Tami Cloute, at right, visits with new chamber member and Cappy Fabrics proprietor Marianne Bardenwerper.
Enjoying the event are Lisa Tuttle Woods and Anne Wesner, from left, both from Tuttle Hallmark, and longtime area journalist and Fort Atkinson Online contributor Chris Spangler
Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carrie Chisholm, at left, visits with Good2Go downtown Fort Atkinson takeout venue manager Stephanie Von Alven.
Chamber ambassador Jeanne Schulenburg, at center, visits with event-goers.
Nicole Miller, owner of new business A Better Physique and also a new chamber member, is among a full room of event-goers who stand ready to learn the names of the 2021 Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson competition winners.
John Foust, owner of GoJefferson.com, an IT and computer resource business based in Jefferson, visits with chamber ambassador Mary Kay Weston.
Daily Union Multimedia Account Executive Lane Lliebergen, at center, visits with event-goers.
Jillian Theder, from left, a teaching assistant at Learning Links Child Care Center in Jefferson, and Jones Dairy Farm Vice President of Manufacturing Jeff Theder, listen to the evening’s presentation.
New chamber member and owner of Earth’s Approval Mobile Notary, Barry Vandergriff, enjoys the event.
School District of Fort Atkinson Superintendent Rob Abbott and the district’s Community Engagement and Communications Specialist Marissa Weidenfeller arrive and visit with fellow chamber members.
Chamber member and Mary Kay cosmetics consultant Mary Beth Klietz and small business consultant at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Ron Chisholm converse Tuesday at Carla’s Catering in Fort Atkinson.
New chamber member, Jason Marin, of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, at right, visits with new chamber member Nicole Miller, owner of A Better Physique.
A Carla’s Catering employee stands ready to supply beverages to Tuesday’s event-goers.
Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Manager Katie Carey addresses event-goers before announcing the winners of the Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson competition.
Members of the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce staff include Associate Director Anna Jensen, from left, Executive Director Carrie Chisholm and Tourism Manager Katie Carey.
Photos above by Kim McDarison.
Unable to attend Tuesday’s event, Penny Langer, owner of Hippychick Penny’s Soaps and Body Care, stands with her trophy alongside a display of her locally-made lotions and soaps. Her products received the title of Coolest Thing Made in Fort Atkinson in the small manufacturer category. Contributed photo.
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