The sun always shines on Rutland even though that’s not what the weatherman predicted for Uffda Day on Sunday, October 5, 2003. A crowd of several thousand, undoubtedly the largest ever in the 19-year history of the event, lined up for the noon parade of more than 90 units that took over 45 minutes to pass by main street where local auctioneer Bill Smith announced them to folks present and Chad Loomis of Lisbon radio station KQLX described them to the radio audience.

In the town hall, 23 roasters of scalloped potatoes were devoured along with gallons of coffee, lefse and other treats. By day’s end all of the sandbakkels, fattigman, krumkake, rosettes and more than 4,000 lefse that had been prepared and packaged by volunteers were gone. Milton McLean’s ice cream crew churned out 18 batches of homemade ice cream and kept going until the ran out of cream.

The car show, tractor exhibit, Pioneer House, Depot Museum, Country School, quilt show, pioneer crafts and skills demonstrations and craft booths all enjoyed record attendance. Horse-drawn wagons and the Uffda Train toured Rutland throughout the afternoon. All in all, it was another great day for Rutland’s Uffda Day.