Despite the purported merits of good farm record keeping, and heavy investments made by some state Extension programs, little is known about the current state of farm financial records and the value farmers place on those records. Through the use of a survey, this study provides an overview of the current state of Midwestern farm financial records. This study also used a second price auction to determine the values farmers place on their financial records by eliciting the minimum amount farmers were willing to accept to give up their records. Survey results indicate that most farmers have a basic understanding of farm recordkeeping but do not practice more advanced accounting and financial techniques. The auction results indicate financial records are extremely valuable but exhibit wide diversity in valuations among farmers.