The Big 9 Conference was organized on April 28, 1928 at a meeting in Owatonna, Minnesota.

In 1931 Superintendent Kirk of Faribault questioned the advisability of continuing the Conference, but on the motion of Rochester Superintendent Sanberg, it was decided to go ahead for another year with an expanded program which would include other matters of interest to the high schools than athletics.

One year later the music supervisors and assistant coaches were invited to the meeting.

Owatonna, a prime mover in organizing, dropped out in 1934 because it did not choose to abide by round-robin schedules drawn up by the committee.

Red Wing resigned as a member of the Conference effective in the fall of 1982.