A study examined the institutional factors the influence whether or not adult agricultural education programs are offered in high schools. All Ohio secondary schools that offered vocational agriculture programs in agricultural production or farm business management during 1985-1986 (a total of 260 schools) were included in the study. Data were obtained from survey instruments that were mailed to superintendents, principals, and vocational agriculture instructors and from Ohio Department of Education records. Eighty-one percent of the 252 questionnaires mailed out were returned. Vocational agriculture instructors were found to be very important in schools' decision as to whether to offer an adult agricultural education program. High school principals were also important. Closely related to the influence of instructors and principals is the extent and nature of school policy about adult education as a function of the particular school. Schools offering young farmer programs usually claim that program as an adult agricultural education program for which reimbursement can be received from the Ohio Department of Education. Surprisingly, schools that offer agricultural education programs have fewer vocational agriculture instructors per school than do schools not offering such programs. Thus, consultation and advertisement efforts to establish an adult agricultural education program in a secondary school should focus on that school's administrators and instructors. (MN)