The Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services has thirteen members. Eleven members are citizen members, appointed by the governor from each of Virginia's congressional districts. The president of Virginia State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are the other two members. State law requires that at least seven of the citizen members be practical farmers. A full term of appointment is four years. Except for those who are initially appointed to fill an un-expired term, each citizen member is eligible to serve no more than two successive terms.

The president of the board serves as a member of the Board of Visitors at Virginia Tech.

The Board

• Promotes the agricultural interest of Virginia,
• Has the power to receive and hold in trust donations made for the advancement of agricultural interests and to administer such trusts,
• Advises the governor on the state of the industry of agriculture and offers the governor recommendations on actions to be taken to promote the industry's development,
• Works with members of the agricultural community and with federal and state agencies to develop and implement programs that will provide for a strong and viable Virginia agriculture,
• Receives annual reports from the state's commodity boards concerning their progress in promoting the industry,
• Has the authority to proscribe, adopt and promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer and enforce laws relating to agriculture, commerce and the consumer,
• Is called upon by the commissioner from time to time to give advice and support concerning the development of new agency programs, organizational changes and other administrative matters,
• Represents the broad interests of the public for the development of a strong industry of agriculture and efficient and responsive programs for serving and protecting the consumer.

Meetings/Public Hearings
The board holds four to five regular business meetings a year. With the exception of the July meeting, which is usually held in a different area of the state each year, the board meetings are conducted in the Richmond offices of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Additional meetings required for public hearings, planning, and new member orientation are held as needed. Public hearings are normally held in conjunction with regular business meetings. (Please note that you must select Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on the Commonwealth Regulatory Town Hall in order to view Board meeting notices and minutes on that web site. See meetings for schedules and locations).

August 19, 2008

Draft Minutes
Final Minutes

Board Members:

L. Bruce Holland, President

Paul Rogers, Vice-President

Roy E. Seward, Secretary

1st District
Stephen Ellis,
Caret, Virginia

2nd District
L. Bruce Holland,
New Church, Virginia

3rd District
Paul W. Rogers, Jr.,
Wakefield, Virginia

4th District
William B. Bain,
Dinwiddie, Virginia

5th District
Traci Rickman Talley,
Halifax, Virginia

6th District
Andrea Lohr,
Rockingham, Virginia

7th District
Edward S. Fleming,
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia

8th District
Patrick A. Toulme,
Falls Church, Virginia

9th District
Charles C. Clark, Jr.,
Saltville, Virginia

10th District
John D. Hardesty, Jr.,
Berryville, Virginia

11th District
Melvin E. Murphy,
Fairfax, Virginia

Ex Officio Members:
Dr. Charles W. Steger, President,
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

Mr. Eddie N. Moore, Jr., President,
Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia

Members of the board may be reached by contacting Roy E. Seward, Secretary of the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,
P.O. Box 1163,
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Phone: 804.786.3538 FAX: 804.371.2945