To evaluate the preparation of post-high school agricultural graduates in Illinois, a four-phase study was conducted to: (1) determine the background, interest and abilities of the students, (2) determine student competencies and attitudes at the end of the first year of on-the-job training, (3) determine opinions of graduates and employers 6 months after graduation, and (4) follow-up students who left the program before completion. Programs offered were in areas of agricultural supply, agricultural mechanics, ornamental horticulture, and agricultural production. Major conclusions were: (1) Students graduating in the lower half of their high school class could succeed, (2) Parents, vocational agriculture teachers and guidance counselors influenced students to enter, (3) Student employees were rated high in integrity, dependability, responsibility, cooperation, courtesy, personal appearance and emotional stability, and were rated average in initiative, judgment, and leadership, (4) Employers indicated 92 percent of the students would be acceptable as permanent employees, and (5) Students of very high or very low academic ability tended to drop out of the program. (DM)