At this year’s Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) annual meeting, undergraduate students from across the country gathered to compete in a Spreadsheet Competition. This event was designed to simulate real-world data analysis and presentation challenges, and the University of Florida Team proved up to the challenge, taking second place in the competition.

Food and Resource Economics Department undergraduate students Bernardo Andrade, Savannah Bailey, and Kimberly Miranda-Ramos showcased both technical skill and teamwork while representing the program.

The competition used the skills the three had developed in Dr. Misti Sharp’s data analysis class.

“It allowed me to apply my data analysis skills learned in AEB3550 to a real dataset and scenario. I was able to practice what I’ve learned in Excel—like pivot charts, regressions, and graphical modeling. The experience familiarized me with scenarios I may run into on the job!” said Kimberly Miranda-Ramos.

Each three-member team was given a dataset and had two hours to analyze it using Excel before presenting their insights to a panel of judges. Teams were evaluated not only on the technical accuracy of their work, but also on their ability to communicate complex data clearly and confidently.

“Competing in a real-world scenario against other schools was a great way to put our Excel and analytical skills to the test,” Andrade said. “It was also enjoyable to meet fellow Ag. Econ majors from across the country and share experiences.”

To prepare for the competition, the three competitors reviewed data sets from Dr. Sharp’s class and did a practice session with her.

“Our review sessions with Dr. Sharp helped us anticipate what might be asked and how to deliver it efficiently under time pressure,” Andrade said

Participating in the competition provided not only an academic opportunity but also one for professional development. Through the competition and attendance at the conference, students you are able to meet professionals from other agricultural economics programs and make connections with students from different universities.

“I strongly encourage those who are interested to participate in the conference or competition. The competition gives you the opportunity to be competitive and identify your strengths, weaknesses, areas of growth, and how you perform under pressure,” Miranda-Ramos said.

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