Here is a brief listing of major milestones in the history of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. For more detailed information please see the ABE History Volume One & Two below (pdf versions)
- 1892--First correspondence courses on agricultural engineering related subjects.
- 1904--Baccalaureate course "Agricultural Engineering Lectures" required of all students in the School of Agriculture.
- July 1, 1913--Ralph U. Blasingame, first agricultural engineer, appointed as instructor of agronomy.
- February 1, 1920--J.R. Haswell appointed as first extension agricultural engineer.
- November 20, 1920--Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Department of Farm Machinery with Ralph U. Blasingame as Head.
- March 27, 1930--Curriculum in Agricultural Engineering approved. Name of the Department of Farm Machinery changed to the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- June 1932--First B.S. degrees awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
- June 1933--First M.S. degree awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
- November 14, 1940--Agricultural Engineering Building dedicated.
- December 31, 1951--Ralph U. Blasingame retired as Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering. Arthur W. Clyde appointed as Acting Head.
- August 1, 1954--Frank W. Peikert appointed Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- September 28, 1954--Joint administration by the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering approved.
- October 1956--Agricultural Engineering curriculum approved by the Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD) for a five-year period.
- June 2, 1964--Agricultural Mechanization curriculum approved by the University Senate.
- April 16, 1968--Ph.D. program in Agricultural Engineering approved.
- March 1972--First Ph.D. degree awarded in Agricultural Engineering.
- August 31, 1975--Frank W. Peikert retired as Head of Department of Agricultural Engineering. Howard D. Bartlett appointed Acting Head.
- January 12, 1976--Agricultural Engineering Extension Section integrated into the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- June 1, 1976--Harold V. Walton appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- February 2, 1983--Master of Agriculture degree program in Agricultural Mechanization approved.
- July 31, 1985--Harold V. Walton retired as Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- August 1, 1985--Dennis E. Buffington appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering.
- August 25, 1986--Minor in Agricultural Engineering approved. Name later changed to Minor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- March 13, 1987--Minor in Agricultural Mechanization Technology approved. Name later changed to Minor in Agricultural Systems Management.
- March 16, 1990--Options in Food Engineering and Agricultural Engineering within the Agricultural Engineering major approved by the Board of Trustees.
- November 9, 1990--Name change of Department of Agricultural Engineering to Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
- November 9, 1990--Program name change of Agricultural Mechanization to Agricultural Systems Management and Technology approved by Board of Trustees.
- March 18, 1994--Program name change of Agricultural Systems Management and Technology to Agricultural Systems Management approved by Board of Trustees.
- March 18, 1994--Graduate program name change from Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
- March, 1996--Undergraduate program name change from Agricultural Engineering to Agricultural and Biological Engineering approved by Board of Trustees.
- July 1, 1996--Harvey Manbeck appointed interim department head.
- July 1, 1998--Roy E. Young appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- July 12, 2002--Minor in Off-Road Equipment approved by Board of Trustees.
- January 1, 2008--Biological Engineering became the name of the undergraduate engineering program formerly named Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- June 30, 2010--Roy E. Young retired as Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- July 1, 2010--Paul H. Heinemann appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
- July 12, 2013--BioRenewable Systems undergraduate program approved.
- November 22, 2013--BioRenewable Systems graduate program approved.
- September 2016--New building construction and renovation begins.
- May 2018--New building completed.
- July 1, 2021--Suat Irmak appointed Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.
