The influentials in a selected rural county: their salient characteristics and interrelationships

This study was prompted by a lack of information concerning influentials in certain Virginia counties, and the limited involvement of these individuals in Cooperative Extension programs.

The reputational method was employed in identifying the influentials in a selected rural agricultural county in Virginia with 10,000 inhabitants. Additional information was collected with a pre-tested interview schedule.

The following objectives constituted the framework for the study:

1. Identify the influentials and determine and describe their salient characteristics.

2. Determine the interrelationships and informal structure.

3. Determine the factors to which influence was attributed.

4. Ascertain the extension agents ability to identify the influentials.

5. Derive implications from findings pertinent to Cooperative Extension work.

The 23 persons identified as being the most influential were all males who were between 32 and 81 years of age, and all except two were county natives. Occupationally the group was predominated by full-time farmers and retail merchants.

The 12 persons attributed county-wide influence were older, had more associations with each other and had held a larger number of formal positions than the local community influentials. All were interrelated through organizations and business contacts and appeared to comprise a unitary structure similar to a "power pool." Each influential in the pool possessed several interrelated factors which contributed to his power. Past achievements was perceived to be one of the most important factors.

Results of the study indicate the need for an organized identification program for extension agents and the recognition of the power structure as an important resource in conducting Extension programs.