It started in 1917 when Girl Scouts in Muskogee, Oklahoma, did what Girl Scouts everywhere always do. They had a great idea, got together, and took action to make it a reality. The girls of Mistletoe Troop hit upon the clever idea to fund their projects by selling cookies they made themselves in their kitchens at home. So simple—and so smart!

Other troops took note, and the idea of Girl Scouts selling cookies took off.

Cookie sales got a boost in 1922, when a special sugar cookie recipe was published inThe American Girl magazine, along with a cookie-selling business plan to help troops maximize their efforts and returns.

Girls held their first sale of not just any cookies, but of what they specifically called Girl Scout Cookies in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1933. Those forward-thinking girls learned goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics—something that continues to this day.