Despite chilly temperatures a large crowd was on hand to enjoy a good time in Rutland, or Snussville, as it’s referred to on Uffda Day. More than 80 units participated in the Sunday, October 3, parade that was kicked off with a fly-over by local aviator Rodney Erickson and his boss, Steve Weatherby of Weatherby Ag Services, in a World War II AT-6 trainer. Craft booths, food stands and other exhibiters reported a brisk business. Many visitors were impressed by the displays in the Depot Museum and the Pioneer House including the new attraction of a one-room school house. The schoolhouse was once used in Dunbar Township and was filled with school memorabilia. Uffda Day chairpersons Doris Hoistad, Hal Nelson, and Lori McLaen delivered their report on the Uffda Day success at the Community Club meeting on October 12.
Despite the worst weather in the 14-year history of the event, Uffda Day 1998 was declared another unqualified success. The day’s weather started out gray, gloomy and windy. By 10 it was sprinkling, by 11 is was a drizzle but by the time the parade started at noon , a steady rain driven by a fierce east wind, pelted the area. Nevertheless, the parade was on schedule with more than 75 units including a Missouri River canoe manned by members of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Society of Brookings, SD. Some of the outside events, such as the tractor slow races and the horse-drawn wagon rides were canceled due to the weather but other events and activities went off as scheduled. Despite the 1.25 inches of rain that fell, it failed to dampen the spirits of anyone in Rutland. Uffda Day co-chairs were Doris Hoistad, Earl Cramton and Lori McLaen.
The weather not only failed to cooperate on Uffda Day but the weatherman failed to show up as well. Weatherman Bruce Asbury of KXJB-TV Channel 4 in Fargo had planned to be in the Uffda Day parade but was stopped by the weather. While on his way from Fargo, Asbury reported that he ran into such a violent storm just south of Wahpeton he feared that his TV camera truck would be blown off the road. Concluding that there would be no parade in Rutland with such weather, Asbury turned around and headed back to Fargo. He did accept an invitation to participate in the 1999 event and stated that he would attend rain or shine.
A record crowd participated in the 13th annual Uffda Day on Sunday, October 5. Co-chaired by Bea Faust, Kathy Brakke and Earl Cramton.
The kickoff event was the parade of more than 65 units including the Viking Shrine Club ship, tractors from the Wild Rice Antique Tractor Plowing Association. Miss North Dakota Roxana Saberi, Miss Sargent County Katie Lubbers, and Miss Rutland Monica Wyum led the parade. Visitors from Norway, Holland, Canada, Georgia, Oregon, California and Indiana joined with local folks and visitors to enjoy the parade and other activities.
Auto buffs exhibited their beautifully restored classic and antique automobiles at the Kulzer Farm Supply lot on Main Street. The Norse Folk Dancing Club from the Bismarck Sons of Norway Lodge participated in the parade and put on several folk dancing performances during the afternoon.
During the day the crowd consumed 4,500 lefse as well as a prodigious quantity of sandbakkels, krumkake, rosettes and other Scandinavian fare, while others enjoyed the scalloped potatoe dinner at the Hall.
More than 250 guests signed the visitors book at the Depot Museum and Pioneer House. Crafters and vendors displayed and sold their wares throughout town. Bill and Lance Gulleson were engineers and conductors on the Uffda train, while Dennis Narum, State Senator Jerome Kelsh, Alvin McLaen, and Clayton McLaen provided horse-drawn wagon and carriage rids for kids and adults throughout the day.
Doris Ann Narum had reported years ago that one of her Uffda Day notebooks had been ‘borrowed’ by someone attending Uffda Day in the 1990s. There is no trace of photographs for Uffda Day for the last three years of the 1990s. If you have found the album in your family belongings, feel free to drop it off at Uffda Day this year so that the Rutland Community Club can reclaim the history that has been lost.
The 1996 Uffda Day Fall festival was held on a crisp and beautiful October day. The kickoff event was a parade of more than 65 units including the Viking ship manned by grizzled seafarers from the Viking Shrine Club and tractors from the Wild Rice Antique Tractor and Plowing Association. Governor Ed Schafer and Rep. Lee Kaldor, the Republican and Democratic-NPL candidates for Governor of North Dakota, along with their wives, headed a list of dignitaries participating in the parade. Other politicians were candidates for State Auditor, State Tax Commissioner, State Treasurer and others.
Auto buffs exhibited 28 beautifully preserved and restored classic and antique automobiles at the Kulzer Farm Supply parking lot on main street. Antique tractor owners put on a plowing demonstration at the Prindiville farm on the south side of town. Arts and craft booths exhibited and sold wares throughout the day.
During the day the crowd consumed 4,000 lefse as well as a large quantity of sandbakkels, krumkake, rommegrot, rosettes and other Scandinavian fare. Those enjoying the scalloped potato dinner at the hall or having lunch at the Senior center were entertained by a variety of musicians, including accordionist Gundy Dahlen of Telemark, Norway.
Many took the opportunity to visit the Depot Museum to view the artifacts and photos on display. Maude, the cook, was in the Pioneer House baking muffins and bread in the old wood-burning cookstove. Near the pioneer house, Sequoia, an early plains fur trapper and trader, had his tepee and trade goods on display. Dennis Narum and State Sen. Jerome Kelsh provided horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides for kids and adults while the Uffda Train engineer Earl Cramton provided entertaining transportation for the small children.
This year, Doris Ann Narum, took 260 photographs on 10 rolls of film to highlight the preparation, set up, and Uffda Day events. Without her work and diligence the pictures of the people who worked at the event and those who attended would be lost to history. The photos posted are a mere small selection to highlight the events every year. Be sure to check out the Uffda Day photos at Uffda Day 2025!
rutlandramblings 