Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame

The Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame (SAHF) was established in 1984 in Minot, N.D., by the Norsk Høstfest Association. The Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame is "an enduring means of honoring the persons of Scandinavian descent in North America who have achieved greatness in their fields of endeavor and/or whose efforts have contributed significantly to the betterment of mankind. Each year a handful of noteworthy individuals of Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Norwegian or Swedish descent are inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, which is held in conjunction with Norsk Høstfest, the annual 5-day fall festival celebrating Scandinavian heritage located in Minot, N.D.

Inductees include former U.S. Secret Serviceman Clint Hill, American pilot Charles Lindbergh, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actor Josh Duhamel, actress Tippi Hedren, Vegas casino owner Ralph Engelstad, Arctic explorers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen, Norway's Princess Astrid, American broadcaster Orion Samuelson, Norsk Høstfest founder Chester Reiten and many more.

In 2009, the induction of Karl Rove into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame became a major dispute as political views clashed over the announcement. Gov. John Hoeven was scheduled to introduce Rove during the SAHF banquet, but Hoeven was unable to attend due to a schedule conflict. At that time, Rove was being investigated by the Democrats in Congress for his role in the 2006 dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys. In addition to the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame Awards, it has been the practice of the Norsk Høstfest Association to recognize deserving non-Scandinavian-Americans and also notable Scandinavian nationals. These individuals are recognized in the following categories: Merit of Distinction Award in the Performing Arts; Humanitarian Award; The Høstfest Heritage Award; International Scandinavian Cultural Award; Høstfest Millennium Award; Explorer of the Millennium; and the Trailblazer Award. "The (Scandinavian-American) Hall of Fame is the premiere event at Norsk Høstfest," said Chester Reiten, founder of Norsk Høstfest. "It shows younger generations that they also may one day follow in these role models' footsteps."

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