A WORKSHOP TO INCREASE FARM MANAGERS’ RECORDKEEPING AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS WITH QUICKBOOKS™ SOFTWARE
Agricultural Economics & Community Development
Keith Dickinson
EXTENSION EDUCATOR
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
WEST CHESTER
Abstract
Dickinson*, K.R.1 , Goodling, R.C.2 , \r\n1. Extension Educator, Penn State Extension, Chester County, West Chester, PA, 19380\r\n2. Extension Associate, Department of Dairy and Animal Science, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802\r\n QuickBooks™ software is used by many farm businesses in Pennsylvania for financial recordkeeping. Farmers often report frustration with their level of understanding of QuickBooks™ software, and feel that they are not using the program to its full potential. In response to this need, a series of statewide workshops were held in five locations in Pennsylvania during the fall and winter of 2011/12. The primary objective of these workshops was to increase the understanding and skills of participants about using QuickBooks™ for completing several key farm recordkeeping and analysis tasks common to most farm businesses. Workshops were conducted as a two-part series. Response to the workshops was excellent, with several full locations. The workshops used a computer lab of ten laptop computers, each with QuickBooks™ 2010 Accountant Edition installed. Each workshop was customized to the individual needs of participants through polling of topics during the introduction of the workshop. An evaluation survey was conducted at the conclusion of the workshops. The majority of respondents to the surveys rated the program to be “Good” (30%) or “Excellent” (63%). Based on answers to post program survey questions, these workshops were successful in improving the knowledge, attitudes, and likely actions of participants with respect to key financial management and analysis tasks using QuickBooks™ software in their agricultural businesses. There is good demand for this workshop subject matter, and it will be continued in the future.
Authors: Dickinson, K.
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Dickinson, K. Extension Educator, Penn State University, Pennsylvania, 19380