A study was conducted to measure the role perceptions of the Georgia Extension Service in rural counties as viewed by three relevant sample groups: members of voluntary associations, leaders of the Harris County community, and professional County Extension Service personnel serving rural counties. Mailed surveys were answered by 69 voluntary association members and 37 county extension agents from 15 randomly selected non-standard metropolitan area (NSMA) counties. Twenty-eight community leaders were interviewed. Data were examined by groups and compared, making some trends apparent: (1) there continues to be very strong support for Extension serving agricultural clientele from all three groups; (2) all three groups support a broad view of the Extension Service's role in NSMA counties; (3) county extension agents had a broader view of the role of the Extension Service in NSMAs in terms of the importance of various services for senior citizens, neighborhood beautification, and recreational services; (4) Harris County community leaders seemed to be less informed about all of the Cooperative Extension Service Programs, especially some of the nontraditional programs, and did not feel that the Extension Service should provide assistance in the area of leadership; and (5) all groups saw a need for the Extension Service to become more involved with the community resource development program area in nonmetropolitan counties. Recommendations were made for the Extension Service to continue to serve farmers, farm families, and homemakers in rural counties but to broaden its traditional role in the rural nonfarm counties to serve all types of client groups and to base programs on the needs of county residents. (KC)