The Cotton Board, established by the passage of a referendum held pursuant to Chapter 873 of the Acts of Assembly of 1997, is continued within the Department. The Cotton Board shall be composed of eight members appointed by the Governor, each of whom shall be a resident of Virginia and of whom (i) three shall be producers of cotton in Area I, (ii) two shall be producers of cotton in Area II, and (iii) three shall be producers of cotton in the At-Large Area pursuant to the production areas designated in § 3.2-1510. The Governor shall make appointments from nominations made by the following agricultural organizations: (i) the Virginia Cotton Growers Association, Inc.; (ii) the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation; and (iii) any other producer organization representing producers. Each such agricultural organization may nominate producers from each production area. Each agricultural organization shall submit nominations for each available position before the expiration of the member’s term for which the nomination is being provided. If said agricultural organizations fail to provide the nominations, the Governor may appoint other nominees that meet the foregoing criteria.