The relationship was analyzed of the characteristics of adaptability, vocational interests, and academic achievement of 77 Virginia agricultural extension agents to their tenure and performance. The agents were grouped on the basis of short, medium, or long tenure. Data were collected from personnel records of the state cooperative system, college transcripts, and through administration of the Adaptability Test and Strong Vocational Interest Blank. The two criterion variables (tenure and performance) were correlated against 129 independent variables. Analysis of variance was used to determine significance of differences between characteristics. No significant relationship was found between length of tenure and performance, or between adaptability, or overall academic grade point average, and performance. There was a significant negative relationship between number of academic credit hours in education and agricultural education and the grade point average in psychology for the undergraduate curriculum and performance ratings. Extension agents have vocational interests most similar to farmers, forest service men, YMCA physical directors, and school superintendents. The psychological tests failed to discriminate between more or less effective agents. (pt)