IN THE CURRENT WAR ON POVERTY, THE POSITION OF THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, WHICH HISTORICALLY HAS SERVED THE MIDDLE-CLASS FARMER, IS NOT WELL DEFINED. TO IDENTIFY FACTORS WHICH INHIBIT THE ADOPTION OF EXTENSION PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR, A STUDY WAS MADE OF THE SERVICE IN MIFFLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AN APPALACHIAN AREA HAVING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES (UNDER $3,000 PER YEAR) THAN THE STATE AS A WHOLE. THIS PAPER EXAMINES ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEFINITIONS OF POVERTY, PRESENTS A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF EXTENSION, AND REPORTS ON STAFF ATTITUDES TOWARD ANTI-POVERTY WORK. DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH 62 PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF, LOCAL LEADERS, ADMINISTRATORS OF WELFARE AGENCIES, AND RURAL AND URBAN LOW INCOME FAMILIES. A MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENTS STATED THAT WORK WITH THE POOR WAS LEGITIMATE ONLY IF THEY SHOWED INTEREST IN IMPROVING THEIR CONDITION BY PARTICIPATING IN EXTENSION PROGRAMS. OTHERS MAINTAINED THAT EXTENSION WAS NOT MEETING ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ALL PEOPLE AND ADVOCATED CHANGES. IT APPEARED, HOWEVER, THAT EXTENSION WOULD CONTINUE TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS WITH INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDING SPECIFIC ANTI-POVERTY EFFORTS, AT LEAST IN THE COUNTY STUDIED. (AJ)