The weekend forecast for October 6, 2013, looked pretty dim but by the time runners and walkers were toeing the mark for the 4th annual Uffda Day 5K event, it was obvious that sun would soon be shining on Rutland. More than 30 participants, some as far away as Hawaii, competed in the event. By the time the last of the participants crossed the finish line at Gay and Bagley Streets, arts and craft vendors were opening for the day.

Lefse, live music, scalloped potatoes, rommegrot, rice pudding, sandbakkels, krumkake, rosettes, Uffda tacos and other goods were all available at the Rutland Town Hall, Senior Center, the American Legion Hall and the Rutland Fire Hall. By the time the American Legion Color Guard, Bergman-Evenson Post #215, led the Uffda Day parade down the main street at 1 p.m., another large crowd, estimated to be more than 3,000 , was on hand for the fun. Lowell Wyum had set up his PA system at the corner of First and Arthur Streets to announce the parade entries as they passed by.

Wine tasting, set up by the ND Grape & wine Association, continued to be popular with attendees. Steffes’ Prairiewood Winery of Elliot, ND, had a booth set up on the south porch of The Old Parsonage and reported a very successful day. Several vendors and demonstrators also reported a good day. Wolfie the clown provided activities for kids of all ages. Doug Spieker and Roy Hildebrand had their high stepping Percheron-Belgian draft horses and a wagon on hand to provide recreational rides and transportation around top. Gay Street was blocked off for the car show and the antique tractors.

The afternoon had the new, first ever, pig races put on by Gary Dauer and family of Leader, Minn., and their stable of thoroughbred racing pigs. Several adults got in on the fun and games with races of their own. It was a fun way for the crowd to end their day at the Uffda Day event.