The Finn Camp started celebrating St. Urho on 1966 with a party on Saturday on or near March 16th. with a selection of the King and Queen for the year.
The legend of St. Urho originated in Northern Minnesota in the 1950s. However, there are differing opinions as to whether it began with the fables created by Sulo Havumaki of Bemidji, or the tongue-in-cheek tales told by Richard Mattson of Virginia. Either way, the legend has grown among North Americans of Finnish descent to the point where St. Urho is known and celebrated across the United States and Canada, and even in Finland.
St. Urho’s Day is celebrated on March 16th, the day prior to the better known feast of some minor saint from Ireland, who was alleged to have driven the snakes from that island.
The legend of St. Urho says he chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, thus saving the grape crop and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. He did this by uttering the phrase: “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen” (roughly translated: “Grasshopper, grasshopper, go to Hell!”). His feast is celebrated by wearing the colors Royal Purple and Nile Green. St. Urho is nearly always represented with grapes and grasshoppers as part of the picture.
Saint Urho has been recognized with proclamations in all 50 states. Minnesota Governor Wendell Anderson issued a proclamation in his state, the unofficial home of Saint Urho, in 1975.
We hope you enjoy our effort to honor this mythical Finnish-American hero.
St. Urho 2021 King Scott Taipala and Queen Karina Garland 
St. Urho 2019-2021 King Steven Niemi and Queen Beverly Jokinen 
St. Urho 2018 King Bruce Foxworthy and Queen Mary Burck 
St. Urho 2017 King Jim Martin and Queen Kathleen Zuver Zewatsky 
St. Urho 2016 King Jim Ziegler and Queen Amber Martin 
St. Urho 2015 King Rob Johnson and Queen Leah Paukovits 
St. Urho 2014 King Dan Linick and Queen Kim Ziezer 
St. Urho 2013 King Mike Jokinen and Queen Mattie O’Brien 
St. Urho 2012 King Greg Pelto and Queen Linda Gooden 
St. Urho 2011 King Denny Sennhenn and Queen Karen Pype 
St. Urho 2010 King Gavin Wing and Queen Lauri Taipala 
St. Urho 2009 King Erick Leskinen and Queen Joni Sennhenn 
St. Urho’s King and Queen 2008, Mary Barie and Larry Gooden. 
St. Urho 2007 Dick Pype and Queen Denise DyKstra 
St. Urho 2004 King Mike Honka and Queen Laura Mazur 
St. Urho 2003 King George Aho and Queen Sherry (Aho) Martin
Pass St. Urho Kings and Queens
| Year | King | Queen |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Ed Naasko | Ann Wiitala |
| 1967 | Arne Leppi | Helen Yeager |
| 1968 | Elmer Hanninen | Shirley Kujala |
| 1969 | Archie Brown | Delores Kansman |
| 1970 | Walt Neimi | Hazel Satti |
| 1971 | Archie Hendrickson | Iria Connolly |
| 1972 | Alex Eklund | Ellen Holma |
| 1973 | Jerry Haverstick | Gert Brandell |
| 1974 | Harry Kansman | Rhea Sorrari |
| 1975 | Roy Wainio | Nancy Yogus |
| 1976 | George Tuorin | Viola Brown |
| 1977 | Bilt Pykonen | Siiri Harerstick |
| 1978 | Hank Mack | Lorna Kansman |
| 1979 | Edwin Elkhill | Sophie Kilponen |
| 1980 | Karl Santti | Vi Pietila |
| 1981 | Herm Brandell | Tina Santti |
| 1982 | Ernest Kalist | Norma Dernberger |
| 1983 | Don Jacobson | Matha Tourin |
| 1984 | Arnie Soberholm | Linda Garland |
| 1985 | Dick Love | Aune Klemola |
| 1986 | Ross Fogle | Elaine Jacobson |
| 1987 | Mike Garland | Marie Fogle |
| 1993 | Bucky Zwiez | Leslie McMahon |
| 1994 | Eric Holm | Lynne Zwiez |
| 1995 | Wayne Jokinen | Carol Melancon |
| 1996 | Russell Maddick | Cindi Maddick |
| 1997 | Keith Maddick | Liz Holm |
| 1998 | Wayne Rentola | Ginger Wing |
| 1999 | Ray Malila | Ginger Wing |
| 2000 | Steve Melancon | Linda Taipala |
| 2001 | Jimmy Leppi | Patti Leppi |
| 2002 | Paul Salo | Robyn Jokinen |
| 2003 | George Aho | Sherry Franco |
| 2004 | Mike Honka | Laura Mazur |
| 2005 | Guy Swanson | Tammie King |
| 2006 | Reino Solin | Pamela Linick |
| 2007 | Dick Pype | Denise Dykstra |
| 2008 | Larry Gooden | Mary Barie |
| 2009 | Erick Leskinen | Joni Sennhenn |
| 2010 | Gavin Wing | Lauri Taipala |
| 2011 | Denny Sennhenn | Karen Pype |
| 2012 | Greg Pelto | Linda Gooden |
| 2013 | Mike Jokinen | Mattie O’Brien |
| 2014 | Dan Linick | Kim Ziegler |
| 2015 | Robert Johnson | Leah Paukovits |
| 2016 | Jim Ziegler | Amber Martin |
| 2017 | Jim Martin | Kathy Bretschneider |
| 2018 | Bruce Foxworthy | Mary Burck |
| 2019-2021 | Steve Niemi | Beverly Jokinen |