Gilster-Mary Lee launches first Create A Crunch contest for local high schools as part of October National Manufacturing Month

CHESTER – October is National Manufacturing Month, when manufacturers across the country showcase the importance of manufacturing through a series of events.  Manufacturing jobs are an extremely important part of the economy and impact everyone, every day in numerous ways.

 

“Manufacturing is an economic engine in Illinois, employing more than 650,000 women and men who contribute the single largest share of our economy. The manufacturing sector creates life-saving medicine, feeds the world, transports people and product around the globe and into space, builds our infrastructure, and provides for our nation’s defense,” said Mark Denzler, president & CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “It’s critically important for our nation’s future that we attract the next generation of creators and makers, dreamers and doers who want to make our world a better place to live.”

 

After the success of various celebrity cereals it has manufactured recently, Gilster-Mary Lee is proud to launch its first Create A Crunch contest to reach out to new creators and makers – local high school students near its facilities in Illinois and Missouri.   The cereals have featured everyone from Quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Pop Icon and Artist Bob Ross, and the list continues to grow.

 

Participating students will answer two important questions related to manufacturing. 

 

What manufactured product has had the most positive impact on your life and why? 

 

What can manufacturers do to get more students interested in careers in manufacturing? 

 

The winning student will work with Gilster-Mary Lee to create a custom breakfast cereal featuring their high school.  The student will pick the type of cereal, create the packaging, and learn about all that goes in to manufacturing food products today.   2,500 boxes of the unique cereal will be produced and given to their school.  The contest will run through October 31st, 2022. 

 

Gilster-Mary Lee is excited to make Create A Crunch a part of National Manufacturing Month and through it help inspire the manufacturers of tomorrow.

 

Gilster-Mary Lee is a store brand and food service manufacturer with plants in Chester, Steeleville, Centralia, and Momence Illinois and Perryville, McBride, Joplin, and Jasper Missouri.