Present occupational status and trends of Oklahoma high school vocational agriculture graduates over the past five years, classes 1959 to 1963

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: This study involves one-third of all Oklahoma high schools having a program in Vocational Agriculture and includes every graduate in vocational agriculture of those high schools over the past five years - classes 1959 to 1963. As a means of conducting this investigation, a questionnaire was created to obtain the following information: What each graduate is now doing occupationally, when each individual was graduated, to what extent the student participated in F. F. A. work (the Future Farmer of America Degree he attained) and the location of each individual's home - on the farm proper or in town. The names of each school's graduates were obtained from the State Office of Vocational Agriculture and typed on the questionnaire by classes. This information along with a concise list of instructions and a letter from Mr. J.B. Perky, State Supervisor of Vocational Agriculture, explaining the nature and importance of this study, was included with the questionnaire. Ninety-two percent of 127 questionnaires were returned.

Findings and Conclusions: The 18.16 % of the graduates found to be farming is in keeping with the information derived from past surveys but slightly lower than any of them possibly indicating a gradual downward trend over a period of years of those farming. It is rather apparent that a minimum of 25% are leaving the State for employment elsewhere. This usually takes place a few years following high school graduation rather than immediately afterwards. The higher the F. F. A. Degree achieved, the greater chance there is of the graduate entering farming, a post high school educational institution and remaining a State resident. The type of residence background a graduate had is apparently quite determinative of his future relationship with agriculture. There is also an indication of a special need for that rural student who is without a farming background. Our present day programs have failed to train him in occupations which are available.