Driven by a growing interest in farming North of 60, and recognizing a lack of government policy aimed at developing the sector, the Territorial Farmers Association (TFA) was estabilished as a registered not-for-profit society by South Slave and Dehcho farmers in 1974. The following misson statements and guiding principles, adopted by the original board, still drive the Territorial Farmers Association today:

• To promote and encourage the concept of agriculture and to consider and discuss all subjects affecting it;
• To facilitate the exchange of information and ideas on matters affecting agriculture and related subjects;
• To provide for the delivery of lectures and the holding of classes, in connection with the practice and concept of agriculture;
• To print, publish, sell, lend or distribute the proceedings or reports of the Society or any papers, communications, works or treatises on agriculture or its application or subjects connected with agriculture in any language;
• To promote and to provide for the carrying out of research and experimental work in connection with agriculture and allied subjects and to make, institute and establish grants, rewards or other benefactions in connection with this;
• To establish and maintain libraries and museums and to promote, organize and conduct exhibitions in connection with this;
• To associate, to affiliate and to federate with any association, society or organization, incorporated or unincorporated, with objects the same as or similar to the objects of the Society;
• To invest the moneys of the Society not immediately required in such manner as may, from time to time, be determined; and
• To promote and encourage the research, development marketing of agriculture in all its forms within the Northwest Territories and elsewhere.

During our most recent Annual General Meeting, a significant change to our by-laws was adopted inviting all NWT gardeners (backyard and community) to enjoy full membership rights (voting and positions on the board of directors). This change was championed by the current board of directors to reflect the reality of agriculture in the NWT and re-define farming North of 60.