The sun was shining, and the wind was blowing but there was a large crowd of visitors for the 35th Annual Uffda Day. With the great weather, people came as far as Arizona and in-State as far as Pembina and Bismarck for the festivities. The parade had some new entries and old standbys and after the parade kids jumped at the opportunity to scramble for nickels and do their best at the pedal pull.

There were more vendors than prior years and they overflowed into the streets and alleys so there was a lot to see and do. The kids always enjoy the jump houses and the train rides, and the adults enjoy the company, the food, the vendors, and watching the kids. About 500 people took advantage of the homecooked scalloped potatoes and ham dinner at the Hall, while others enjoyed the Uffda tacos, brats, abelskievers and rommegrot. The evening ended with the Norsk-Ski competition that was won by the team of Philip Breker, Maria and Vance Zacharias and Corey Arnold. Needless to say, everyone was tired by the end of the day – even the troll in front of the Hall looked well-worn out on Monday morning.

Uffda Day dawned cool and breezy as the community got moving for the 30th annual Uffda Day. Entrants for the 5th annual 5K Run/Walk took off at 9 a.m. sharp. The cool morning weather encouraged visitors to head inside for coffee, conversation and good things to eat, along with visits to craft booths and demonstrations of pioneer skills through the downtown area.

Dave and Pat Bladow organized another outstanding display of antique and classic motor vehicles that included a classic Packard sedan and a unique Lincoln pickup. By parade time, the wind went down aa little and temperature reached the mid-50s with an enthusiastic crowd along the parade route. The parade was a little shorter than the prior year, consisting of 50 units and political candidates were scarce for an election year. The American Legion Color Guard lead the parade and the hit again this year was the Aberdeen Fire Department Bagpipe Band from Aberdeen, South Dakota. The band members wowed the crowd with the wailing bagpipes and beating drums.

After the parade, the first annual Uffda Day Pedal Tractor Pull was held with competitors ranging from age 4 to well over 21 years of age. Visitors enjoyed the remainder of the day with good music, good fellowship, and good fun in the little city that can.

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.