A study examined the perceptions of local school administrators pertaining to educational competencies needed by vocational agriculture instructors in the area of adult/young farmer education. An opinionaire consisting of 209 competency statements was administered to the following sample population: 20 percent of the superintendents and principals administering vocational agriculture in Missouri; 20 percent of all Missouri vocational agriculture instructors; and all Missouri area vocational-technical school directors, teacher educators, and state supervisors. The response rate for the sample was 89 percent. Included among the areas covered in the questionnaire were the following: program planning, development, and education; instructional planning, execution, evaluation, and management; guidance, school community relationship; professional role and development; adult/young farmer education; agricultural mechanics; and teaching agricultural management. After analyzing all data collected, researchers concluded that teachers, principals, and superintendents placed less emphasis on adult/young farmer education than did teacher educators and state supervisors. They also noted a lack of support for adult/young farmer education in the leadership of local secondary school systems. Finally, the opinions of teachers tended to represent the views of local school administrators rather than those of state supervisors and teacher educators. (MN)