1916 — David Tester born in Oakley, Utah

1920 — Helen Pearson born in Fargo, North Dakota

1943 — David Tester and Helen Pearson marry, begin managing family farm outside Big Sandy

August 21, 1956 — Jon Tester born in Havre

1965 — Jon loses three fingers in meat grinder accident

1974 — Graduates from Big Sandy High School

1977 — After first seeing her in a church pew years earlier, Jon marries Sharla Bitz

1978 — Graduates from College of Great Falls; begins managing family farm

1979 — Works as elementary school music teacher

1979-1982 — Serves on the Big Sandy Soil Conservation Service Committee

1980 — Daughter Christine born

1985 — Son Shon born

1986-1991 — Serves as Chairman of the Big Sandy School Board of Trustees

1987 — Testers convert farm to organic crops (wheat, peas, lentils, soybeans)

1990-1995 — Serves on the Chouteau County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Committee

1992 — Testers build their own house on farmland

1998 — Elected to Montana Senate

2001 — Elected to serve as Montana Senate Minority Whip

2003 — Elected to serve as Montana Senate Minority Leader

2005 — Elected President of Montana Senate

May 26, 2005 — Announces campaign for U.S. Senate

August 29, 2005 — Big Sandy native Jeff Ament and rock band Pearl Jam performs for Tester Senate campaign

June 6, 2006 — Wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate

November 7, 2006 — Elected to U.S. Senate seat once held by Mike Mansfield

January 3, 2007 — Sworn in, imposes strict ethics rules on personal office and staff, and makes history as first member of Congress to post daily public schedule on website

January 18, 2007 — Helps pass first bill as Senator, installing most sweeping ethics and transparency reforms since Watergate

February 7, 2007 — Delivers first Senate floor speech, telling colleagues U.S. troops and families deserve an open debate over course of Iraq war

March 13, 2007 — 9/11 Commission recommendations passed by Senate with Jon's amendments to strengthen northern border security

July 21, 2007 — Chairs Veterans Affairs Committee field hearing in Great Falls, Montana

November 2007 — Tours Iraq war zone with military commanders

February 1, 2008 — Jon's proposal to boost mileage reimbursement for disabled veterans take effect

February 7, 2008 — Blasts Washington, D.C.'s ban on guns as affront to Second Amendment in speech to Heritage Foundation

March 7, 2008 — Launches unprecedented independent ethics audit of personal Senate office, conducted by former Montana Supreme Court Judge

May 22, 2008 — Helps pass 21st Century G.I. Bill

June 26, 2008 — Helps lead Congressional effort to secure individual gun rights in Heller v. District of Columbia Supreme Court case

October 1, 2008 — Votes against Wall Street bailout

November 19, 2008 — Gets automaker CEOs seeking bailouts to publicly agree to $1 salary

December 11, 2008 — Votes against U.S. auto industry bailout, becoming only Senate Democrat to vote against both bailouts of Wall Street, automakers

January 13, 2009 — Earns seat on influential Senate Appropriations Committee

January 30, 2009 — Tapped as Vice Chairman of Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus

March 16, 2009 — Introduces "Dirt Bike Bill"

March 30, 2009 — Jon's bipartisan "Wolf Kill Bill" signed into law

May 22, 2009 — Helps write successful law cracking down on credit card industry

June 13, 2009 — Hosts first in series of Small Business Opportunity Workshops to boost jobs and business across Montana

July 17, 2009 — Introduces Forest Jobs and Recreation Act

August 4, 2009 — Successfully strips funding for controversial Animal ID program

August 12, 2009 — Dr. Joe Medicine Crow of Lodge Grass, Montana awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom after Jon's nomination

August 14, 2009 — Jon's requests for new Vet Centers in Great Falls and Kalispell, Montana approved by VA

September 30, 2009 — Pushes successful legislation to make Congress' expense reports publicly available online

January 26, 2010 — Votes in favor of creating a bipartisan panel to cut government spending and reduce the national deficit

April 26, 2010 — Helps kill Congressional pay raise

May 3, 2010 — Backs legislation to permanently ban former members of Congress from ever becoming registered lobbyists

May 5, 2010 — Jon's landmark Rural Veterans Health Care Improvement Act signed into law, benefiting all veterans in Montana and across rural America

May 6, 2010 — Introduces sweeping Public Online Information Act for government transparency

June 3, 2010 — Hosts Treasure State Export Seminar with Montana businesses and industry leaders

June 28, 2010 — Helps achieve major gun rights victory in McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court case