Spreadsheet Modeling Activity
This activity introduces you to spreadsheet modeling as a tool for analyzing food and agricultural markets. Spreadsheets are widely used across agribusiness, government, and research to manage data, run scenarios, and support decision-making. Developing comfort with Excel will help you complete assignments in this course and prepare you for future coursework and internships.
What You’ll Do
You’ll work through the Spreadsheet Modeling Online Course (Excel 2013). This section provides a hands-on tour of Excel’s features and functions, with practical examples and exercises.
Topics include:
Navigating the Excel environment (workbooks, worksheets, ribbons, toolbars)
Working with data (cells, ranges, copying/moving entries, formatting)
Using formulas and functions (pointing, copying, absolute addressing, order of operations)
Enhancing readability and preparing worksheets for printing
Creating and customizing charts
Time Commitment
Expect to spend 4–6 hours on this section, depending on your prior experience with Excel.
Why It Matters
Spreadsheets are one of the most common tools for data analysis in agribusiness and applied economics. This activity builds a foundation you’ll use throughout the semester—whether you’re calculating price margins, analyzing cost structures, or visualizing trends in food markets.