In an effort to conceptualize, plan, and conduct research activities to gather data for decision making concerning program improvement in vocational agriculture, a model for evaluating programs was developed by the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, University of Florida. Through use of this model, six objectives to guide research activities were identified. These objectives relate to social and leadership skill development; employer satisfaction; cost-effectiveness; occupational skill development; participant satisfaction; and occupational status, job placement, and career patterns. Using these objectives and the model, several research studies have been conducted and data analyzed and reported. Based on these studies, some conclusions were made relative to the program of vocational agriculture in Florida: (1) student mastery of the competencies was approximately 57 percent; (2) students who were members of Future Farmers of America (FFA) or who had supervised occupational experiences tended to perform better on achievement tests; (3) the majority of program completers were involved in an agriculture-related occupation one year after graduation; (4) program completers did not accurately state their postsecondary plans; (5) program completers had very positive attitudes about their experiences in vocational agriculture; and (6) highest FFA degree earned significantly contributed to the explanation of variance in program completer attitudes about the values of the program. The conclusions of these studies will be used to provide a more programmatic, systematic, and valid data base for decisions affecting the future of vocational education in agriculture. (KC)