The History of the Department
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.
