A study was conducted to determine why some young farmers continue to attend Wisconsin's five-year (part-time) instructional program and others drop out. Specifically, both groups were compared in personal characteristics, satisfaction regarding in-class instruction, satisfaction regarding on-farm instruction, and relevance of program to student's needs. Mail questionnaires were sent to a random sample of everyone enrolled for at least one year since 1967; returns totaled 75 for dropouts and 195 for continuing students. It was concluded that: (1) dropouts were generally older and more established in farming--they were interested less in developing problem-solving abilities than in acquiring the most recent technological information; (2) respondents generally were satisfied with their instructors' teaching abilities; (3) general agreement existed that feeds and feeding, crop production, soils and fertilizers, and farm records should receive the most emphasis; (4) respondents were generally satisfied with the administration of the in-class instructional program; (5) more respondents placed greater emphasis on the on-farm instructional part than on the in-class part; and (6) two-thirds or more in each group indicated their needs were almost or completely met by these programs; reasons for dropping out were primarily of a personal nature. (KM)