TURF was established in 1988 in Havre, MT. It is a local non-profit organization, consisting of business and community leaders whose objective was to get the private sector to start a tree planting binge that would spread throughout town.

The need for such a committee was shown in a 1987 survey conducted by the Montana Depatment of State Lands. The results of the survey found that, of the 7,000 trees on public property, less than 25% were in acceptable condition, 64% were in poor condition, and 13% were dead and dying.

One of the goals the TURF committee wanted to achieve was the set up of a tree memorial fund for donations to plant a tree in someone's honor. For more about Memorial Trees.