After a long period of discussions among agribusiness leaders throughout the state, a final planning committee voted to move forward on the formation of the Council, and formed a subcommittee to develop bylaws. The recommendations of this committee were presented at a meeting for all interested parties. During that session, it was noted that a large percentage of all manufacturing employees in the state were in some way connected with agribusiness; that there was a growing problem within business firms and between business firms; and that no current organization was broad enough to speak for all segments of agribusiness. The group was told that an Agribusiness Council could beneficially deal with industry-wide problems as they develop, devise new ideas, rules and regulations to help business grow, and be of help to the School of Agriculture in allocating its educational resources.

Following that luncheon and business meeting, the final articles for incorporation for the perpetual non-profit group were signed and filed in the office of the Secretary of State Thad Eure on November 25, 1969. The articles of incorporation were signed by H. Brooks James, then dean NC State University School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who had been named as temporary chairman of the Council, with 24 directors also being named. Thomas A. Finch, president of Thomasville Industries was named as the Council's first president at the first meeting of the board of directors, held in November. Other officers named at that meeting were Wayne Corpening of Wachovia as vice-president; Dr. Fred Mangum of NCSU as treasurer and Brantley DeLoatche of Central Carolina Farmers Exchange as treasurer. Halbert Jones, president of Waverly Mills was elected Chairman of the Board and Atwell Alexander was named to serve with the other officers as members of the executive committee. In 1973, former Governor Robert W. Scott was named as the Council's first executive vice president.