Pinal County cotton farmers have overcome extreme heat, drought and water scarcity and maintained high yields.

A good cotton picker, pacing himself for a day’s work in the field, averages from 18 to 35 lb. an hour. But last week’s pickers were after something more than a day’s pay.

A cotton-picking machine manufactured at John Deere’s Ankeny facility has claimed the title of Coolest Thing Made in Iowa in 2025. There were more than 93,000 votes in this year’s competition.