(a) The authority is governed by a board of directors composed of the commissioner of agriculture, the director of the Institute for International Agribusiness Studies at Prairie View A&M University, and nine members appointed by the commissioner. Members of the board must be appointed in the numbers specified and from the following categories:
(1) one person who is an elected or appointed official of a municipality or county;
(2) four persons who are knowledgeable about agricultural lending practices;
(3) one person who is a representative of agricultural businesses;
(4) one person who is a representative of agriculture related entities, including rural chambers of commerce, foundations, trade associations, institutions of higher education, or other entities involved in agricultural matters; and
(5) two persons who represent young farmers and the interests of young farmers.
(b) The appointed members of the board serve staggered terms of two years, with the terms of four members expiring on January 1 of each even-numbered year and the terms of five members expiring on January 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(c) Any vacancy occurring in an appointed position on the board shall be filled by the commissioner for the unexpired term.
(d) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 285, Sec. 31(2).
(e) A board member is not entitled to compensation for serving as a director but is entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing the official duties of office.
(f) Appointments to the board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees.
(g) Notwithstanding Subsection (f), age may be considered by the commissioner in making appointments under Subsection (a)(5).