The purpose of this research was to explore the perceptions of vocational horticulture students, parents, horticultural industrial employers, and school administrators concerning the value of extended service contracts (summer programs) in horticulture. Twenty schools were randomly selected from the 66 Ohio secondary schools having vocational horticultural programs, and students were given questionnaires. From these questionnaires, five were selected from each school; five parents and five employers of students received questionnaires; all the teachers and administrators at each of the schools received questionnaires as well. Of the numerous results obtained from the analysis, the most significant were the following: (1) parents, vocational horticultural students, and employers all responded that the summer program is an important part of the vocational horticultural program; (2) all four groups perceived of teachers as engaging in activities of supervising students' summer employment, advising summer Future Farmers of America activities, working with horticultural industrial employers, contacting community leaders, and updating and repairing school equipment; (3) students did not respond as strongly as parents and employers that knowledge and experience obtained during the summer were not obtainable during the school year; (4) frequency of teacher visits to job sites were viewed differently by students and employers, possibly because teachers paid more attention to employers than to students; and (5) all groups responded that the extended service contract should be continued even if federal/state monies are withdrawn. Recommendations were made to increase knowledge of the summer program and to open lines of communication among the groups involved. (KC)