At the 1960 Session, the General Assembly noted the importance of the livestock raising industry to the agricultural economy of the Commonwealth and expressed its concern as to whether livestock producers are obtaining optimum results from the services furnished by the Department of Agriculture and Immigration in connection with the grading of livestock. By Senate Joint Resolution No. 17 it created a Commission to make "a study and report upon the present methods and formulae used by those grading lambs, calves, and hogs, which will be sold for commercial purposes."

Pursuant to this resolution, the President of the Senate appointed Harry C. Stuart, of Elk Garden, and John H. Temple, of Petersburg, as members of the Commission; the Speaker of the House of Delegates appointed Matt G. Anderson, of Oilville, Charles D. Price, of Stanley, and R. Maclin Smith, of Kenbridge, as members of the Commission. Parke C. Brinkley, Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration and George W. Litton, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, served ex officio as members of the Commission.

The Commission organized by electing Senator Stuart as Chairman and Mr. Price as Vice-Chairman. John B. Boatwright, Jr., and Wildman S. Kincheloe, Jr., were appointed Secretary and Recording Secretary, respectively, to the Commission.

Desiring both to learn the attitude of livestock producers toward the livestock grading services now being performed by the Department of Agriculture and Immigration and to inform producers concerning the services available and methods and practices used by the Department in grading of livestock, the Commission initiated a series of conferences in the principal livestock-producing areas in the State. These were held under the auspices of the Department of Animal Husbandry of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Immigration met with the producers and explained to them methods used in the grading of livestock and the basis upon which these services are made available. Twenty-five meetings were held in localities throughout the State selected to permit the attendance of producers in the major livestock-producing areas. The meetings were well attended. These meetings were of great benefit to the industry as well as giving the Commission insight into the views of the citizens most affected by the livestock grading program.