Trends in climate change, agricultural practices and research needs have indicated many open questions that require clarification, particularly regarding the contribution of psychological variables in shaping student attitudes towards rural practices. This empirical study adds to the literature on agricultural education and rural development by examining and modelling the relationship between certain psychological variables and attitudes towards farming practices in rural areas among agricultural students in Taiwan. The psychological variables studied included intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, metacognition and self-efficacy. Attitudes towards rural practices comprised three dimensions: autonomy, isolation and friendliness. The results revealed that the psychological variables directly influenced the students' attitudes towards rural practices. This article presents evidence that provides contemporary insights into the moderating role of intrinsic motivation in shaping attitudes towards rural practices. The results offer recommendations regarding practical implications and provide a research agenda for developing knowledge about facilitating rural practices in agricultural education.