“The first reason is the people. The second is the diversity of products made here,” Nicacio said.

Nicacio said he has been in New Ulm just eight months but has been impressed with the friendliness of the community that has been part of the 3M community for so long.

“What an honor and what a great community for 3M to be a part of. It’s really proud to be a part of the community,” said Brian Culy, of the Austin, Texas, 3M plant management.

“And for this team here and standing at the shoulders of giants you know who came before. Hopefully we’ll build something big and great for the future as well,” Culy added.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch 3M employees from left, Denny Wagner of New Ulm and Bob Schabert of Courtland get food at a food truck at the 3M 60th anniversary celebration Saturday.

3M IT worker Ron Drahota said he’s seen the company transition several plants in New Ulm to one site.

“A lot of good things. A lot of good memories,” Drahota said. “Honestly, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about 3M. They’ve been very good to me all these years. A couple of my boys worked here. It’s been really rewarding. The fact that 3M has been here all these years means so much to the community. It’s been pretty awesome. It’s a great place to work.”

The New Ulm Battery fired six cannon shots from the upper campus parking lot, one for each decade 3M has been in New Ulm.

3M employees wore red t-shirts. They stood in a nearby open field for drone photos after the cannon fire.

Following that, hundreds of employees and many former employees and their loved ones, some of which included generations of employees, ate dinner supplied by a number of food trucks.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch The New Ulm Battery fires its cannon six times for each decade the 3M company has been in New Ulm at its 60th anniversary celebration at the plant Saturday.

In 1962, the company bought a vacant 33,000-square-foot building on North Minnesota Street and 60 acres of land.

Plant additions came fast. Construction of a 100,000-square-foot addition to the rear of the existing plant begin in 1963. More expansion, including a plant facing North Front Street, was announced in 1964.

The current 3M plant totals 532,000 square feet and employs more than 700.

Signs near the plant, which is the city’s biggest employer, advertised the need for more employees to work with modern technology in the facility.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).