This study focused on the influence of selected personal factors on North Carolina legislators' perceptions of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. A review of the theories of perception and related research was coupled with interviews with 145 members of the 124th General Assembly of North Carolina. Concepts of the district or county represented, degrees of involvement with the Agricultural Extension Service, place of residence, occupation, length of legislative service, and size of farm or business were the independent variables. Findings included the following: (1) each variable was significant for at least two, and as many as ten, of the 42 elements of perception examined: (2) degree of involvement with the Extension Service was the chief variable; (3) next came business or farm size, with seven significant associations, and occupation, with six; (4) length of service and concepts of the type of county or district represented were generally the least important. Major implications were derived for Extension Service dealings with the legislature, communication with individual legislators, and program planning and administration. Research was recommended on such topics as means of communicating with legislators and legislators' perception of their role. (author/ly)