TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW PROGRAM, A STUDY WAS MADE TO DETERMINE -- (1) OCCUPATIONS ENTERED, (2) EFFECT OF NUMBER OF YEARS IN VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE ON OCCUPATIONAL CHOICE, (3) MECHANICAL SKILLS USEFUL IN THE OCCUPATION, (4) ADDITIONAL SKILLS NEEDED, AND (5) CHANGES NEEDED IN THE COURSE OF STUDY. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 802 FORMER STUDENTS WHO RETURNED QUESTIONNAIRES TO 147 OF THE 326 VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE TEACHERS IN THE STATE. OF THE FORMER STUDENTS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL, 86 PERCENT ENTERED OCCUPATIONS OTHER THAN FARMING, AND 73 PERCENT WERE EMPLOYED IN THE SAME COUNTY IN WHICH THEY ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL. THE HIGHEST FREQUENCIES OF EMPLOYMENT OCCURRED IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AT THE UNSKILLED OR SEMISKILLED LEVEL. SKILLS ACQUIRED IN AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS WERE DEEMED USEFUL BY 82 PERCENT, AND 32 PERCENT INDICATED A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SKILLS. USEFUL SKILLS WERE ACQUIRED IN MACHINERY MAINTENANCE, WOODWORK, ELECTRICITY, CARPENTRY, AND TOOL FITTING. ROPE WORK, GLAZING, HOT-METAL, AND DRAWING WERE NOT USEFUL. THE IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL SKILLS NEEDED WERE MACHINERY MAINTENANCE, BLUEPRINT READING, GASOLINE ENGINE MAINTENANCE, AND WELDING. RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE TO INCREASE EMPHASIS ON AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS, IMPROVE FACILITIES, AND CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS CURRICULUM. (JM)