1966 -- Iowa Beef Producers opens beef slaughter plant in Dakota City, Nebraska.

1967 -- Boxed beef, a new industry concept of vacumm packing beef in smaller producers, rather than shipping whole carcasses, introduced at plant.

1969 -- Dakota City plant workers go on strike, the first of five walkouts over the next 16 years.

1970 -- To reflect its diversified operations, company name changed to Iowa Beef Processors, Inc. Name later shortened to IBP inc. after expansion into pork

1981 -- Occidental Petroleum acquires IBP for $795 million in stock; Occidental sells majority share in company 10 years later

2001 -- IBP acquired by Tyson Foods in 2001 for $3.2 billion in cash and stock

2004 -- Tyson announces $80 million expansion of Dakota City plant that includes replacement of processing rooms date to the 1960s

2012 -- Tyson announces $90 million project that includes modernizing the Dakota City slaughter floor, portions of which date to the original plant.

2016 -- Dakota City complex turns 50 years ago; metro area's largest employer with more than 4,500 employees in plant and office.