The Virginia Agricultural Opportunities Commission was established pursuant to to Senate Joint Resolution No. 9 by the 1978 Session of the Virginia General Assembly.

Howard P. Anderson of Halifax, patron of Senate Joint Resolution No. 9 and Chairman of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee of the Senate of Virginia, was elected Chairman of the Commission. Ford C. Quillen of Gate City, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, was elected as Vice Chairman.

In addition to the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Elmon T. Gray of Waverly, Frank W. Nolen of New Hope and Coleman B. Yeatts of Chatham were appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections from the membership of the Senate of Virginia. Also appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates were L. Ray Ashworth of Wakefield, J. Paul Councill of Franklin, Joseph P. Crouch of Lynchburg, Calvin G. Sanford of Hague and William T. Wilson of Covington.

The following citizens were appointed to serve on the Commission: S. Mason Carbaugh of Richmond, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; James R. Nichols of Blacksburg, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (hereafter referred to as VPI and SU); Robert B. Delano of Richmond; J. Edwin Givens of Richmond; Harvey G. Pope of Courtland; and. Fred W. Scott, Jr. of North Garden.