This study was designed to investigate the attitudes, degree of participation, and knowledge of both small and large flue-cured tobacco producers regarding the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. The population for this study consisted of the 6,937 flue-cured tobacco producers from the ten largest flue-cured tobacco producing counties in Virginia. A randomly selected proportional stratified sample was used to select the 400 producers included in the study. Producers in the sample were later grouped, as small or large producers, based on the median tobacco acreage of the producers in the sample which was 9 acres. A four-part survey instrument was used to collect data. The mailed instrument was returned by 252 producers ( 63 percent). Statistical techniques used to analyze the data were frequencies, percentages, independent t-test, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and One-Way Analysis of Variance. Eight null hypothesis statements were established and tested for statistical significance. The major conclusions reached in this study were: (1) Large flue-cured tobacco producers' attitudes were more positive than the small flue-cured tobacco producers' attitudes toward the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service flue-cured tobacco program. (2) Small flue-cured tobacco producers had a less positive attitude than the large flue-cured tobacco producers toward the overall agricultural program of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. (3) Both small and large flue-cured tobacco producers possessed positive attitudes toward the qualifications of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service local professional staff. (4) Large flue-cured tobacco producers participated in more programs of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service than the small flue-cured tobacco producers. (5) Both small and large flue-cured tobacco producers were knowledgeable of the functions of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. (6) Producers' knowledge of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service functions was positively related to their attitudes toward the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service. The data suggested that flue-cured tobacco producers had positive attitudes toward the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.

Ed. D.