It was a bright and beautiful day on October 3, just what the doctor ordered since Uffda Day 2020 was canceled due to COVID. More than 3,000 lefse and 18 roasters of scalloped potatoes had been prepared along with gallons of rommegrot and hundreds of krumkake and sandbakkels to feed the massive crowd on hand. The American Legion Color guard once again led the parade through town with several units including a Norse Mythology unit in which members of the Nelson and Pederson families portrayed characters from the Scandinavian folklore, along with many old favorites like the Viking ship, tractors, and the classic cars.

The 2021 car show included 83 antique, classic, restored and modified automobiles from throughout North and South Dakota and Minnesota. There was also a sawmill operated by Sod Buster volunteers from Fort Ransom. Arts and craft vendors reported a great day and local youngsters with their pumpkins, squash, gourds and more had a great sale day. The nickel scramble and the pedal tractor pull had an enthusiastic participation by kids of all ages.

A new activity was the “One Room School Day” event with 35 children participating in two sessions, complete with period costumes. School began with the kids lining up outside the school to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and then lessons began inside the school house using slates and chalk. Recitations and group songs could be heard by those outside. Seven former Rutland students who attended school in this fashion were on hand in the morning for donuts and lemonade and to tell stories to the kids about the “good old days.”

The afternoon concluded with the dedication of a park bench to honor the late Ronald Narum, Rutland’s Mayor from 1972 until his death in 2020.