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.

A large and exuberant crowd, estimated at 3,500, gathered in Rutland, Sunday, October 1, 1995, for the 11th annual Uffda Day. The weatherman cooperated by providing a beautiful Sunday. The 50 unit parade at noon kicked off the day’s events. Auto buffs exhibited their prized possessions in the classic car show and antique tractors plowed in farming demonstrations on the southwest corner of town.

Attendees enjoyed a scalloped potato dinner at City Hall and a lunch at the Senior Center both while being entertained by a variety of musicians throughout the day. The Rutland Depot Museum was open for visitors to browse and Maudie, the cook, baked muffins and bread in the wood-burning cookstove at the Pioneer House.

The North Dakota Collector’s Plate for 1995 featured the Great Northern Railroad Depot in Rutland. The blue-and-white china plate series started back in 1972 and each year a different ND landmark was showcased starting with a plate commemorating Fort McKean. Fort Totten to Hatton’s Eielson Museum to the Red River Steamboat in Wahpeton had been on prior issues. The entire collection was displayed at the Museum for Uffda Day. Danene McLaen’s painting of the Great Northern Railroad depot graced the 1995 plate and the plates were available for purchase from Danene at her shop Designs by Danene for $25.00. The 1995 plate remains on display at the Depot Museum.