Category: UffDa Day

Uffda Day 1991 Record Numbers

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Rutland’s 7th annual Uffda Day on Sunday, October 6, 1991, drew a record crown with an estimated 850-900 eating at the Hall alone.

The second annual antique and classic car show drew 35 entries and many spectators. Winners included: Mayor’s Choice – 1957 chevy belonging to Charles Jorgenson of Lisbon; Longest Distance – ’40 Chevy owned by Larry Graffis of Moorhead; and the People’s Choice – a 1951 Studebaker owned by Bernard Holland of Lidgerwood.

Pioneer skills were again demonstrated with the usual tatting, embroidery, cream separating, butter churning, clothes washing, sausage making, quilt making, rope making and other skills. There were ethnic foods for sampling and at the buffet meal in the Hall. Horse farming demonstrations and horse drawn rides were available. Many exhibitors and crafters displayed their handiwork. A new attraction was the postage stamp cancellation that was completely sold out, including about 200 requests from collections across the nation. Special features throughout the day were entertainment by musicians and a new attraction specifically for the children’s entertainment including painting and a clown.

  • Joyce Carlson crafts
  • Grilling food
  • Stamp collections
  • Balloons
  • Painting crafts

The pioneer house was a popular attraction with its old-time cook stove turning out coffee and muffins all day. The cookstove also served to keep the building warm which MaryAnn Thornberg served the muffins.

Uffda Day enters the ’90s

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Rutland’s sixth annual Uffda Day was held on Sunday, October 7, 1990, with a large crowd attendance. A new attraction this year was the car show. Thirty-nine vehicles were on display including antiques, street rods and restored classics. Two awards for given: (1) for the longest distance that went to Wallace Nelson from East Grand Forks and (2) the People’s Choice Award given to Richard Engwicht of Oakes (no information was located on what make and model the vehicles were that year).

Pioneer skills demonstrated were tatting, bobbin lace, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, hardanger, spinning, counted cross-stitch, cream separating, butter churning, sausage making, clothes washing, gas engines, corn shelling, rope making and homemade ice cream. Fresh lefse was rolled out at the senior center and fed numerous visitors who wanted to try the Norwegian taste treats.

There were ten ethnic foods prepared for everyone to enjoy together with a buffet meal. A horse farming demonstration, antique farm machinery display, quilt display and horse drawn rides were enjoyed by young and old. About 40 exhibitors and crafters displayed their items.

A special feature throughout the day was entertainment by musicians and square dancers. The Pioneer House, furnished to represent the early 1900s, was also a new attraction.

  • Harvey Bergstrom
  • Pioneer House

Uffda 1987

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Rutland held its third annual Uff-Da Day on Sunday, October 11, 1987, and it was deemed the most successful to date. Events actually began Saturday evening with a potluck supper and concert. A 53-member orchestra and folk-dance group had arrived earlier on Saturday. Twenty-four of the group were members of the Vessigebro Dragspelklubb (Accordion Club) from Vessigebro, Sweden. The group was on a tour in the three state area as part of a cultural exchange. They performed in New York, Boston and Minneapolis, and were on their way to Fargo and then Minot. Performances were also done on Sunday at the Nordland Lutheran Church and Baptist Church. Members of the troupe stayed through Monday with host families in Rutland.

Sunday activities ran from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and included live demonstrations of pioneer crafts and ethnic foods, homemade ice cream and butter churning, four different horse and mule-drawn hayrides, the antique quilt display, an antique tractor pull and two more Scandinavian group performances. In addition to the ethnic food sales around town, an escalloped potato and ham dinner was served at City Hall. Ten roasters were consumed along with about 1,300 lefse, 800 rosettes, five roasters of rice pudding, and 12 batches of homemade ice cream (about 500 servings). The abelskievers were a big hit and the crew ran out of ingredients and had to raid their kitchens for more.

The antique tractor pull drew about 45 entries and was held in McLaen’s Meadow, just west of town. That competition took most of the afternoon.

According to the financial reports the two largest expenses for the event was, of course, the food from J&K Market and the Swedish group performances which ran a whopping $400.00. The profit from the event was just over $1,500.

Uffda Day 1986

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In March of 1986, the Rutland Community Club (RCC) designated the second Saturday in October of each year for Uffda Day, committing to the event for years to come. The RCC now could plan further in advance instead of pulling the event together in two months as they did in 1985. The second annual Uffda Day was held October 18, 1986. Kickoff was, again, at 1 p.m. and for only four short hours crafters demonstrated their art and rides were a big hit. This year more food options were added including abelskievers for the first time. Rosettes were available at the Insurance building and rommegrot at the Post Office. Antique quilts were on display at the Baptist Church and antique machinery could be seen around town. A Scandinavian smorgasbord started at 5:30p.m. with advance tickets for the supper and dance for only $5.50. Those who missed out on advance tickets had to purchase tickets at the door $3.50 for the supper and $3.00 for the dance. The meal included Swedish meatballs, boiled potatoes, peas and carrots, sweet soup, a relish tray, rommegrot, lefse and “assorted Norwegian cookies”. A 25-member band and dance group from Norway, The Fjellklang Spelemannslag, was the evening entertainment with a concert followed by a dance.

  • Crafters
  • Rev. Myron Reed at the potters wheel
  • Janet Kiefer, right, demonstrating hardanger
  • Norma Brekke demonstrating crafts
  • Phyllis Bogart at the spinning wheel, Patti Carlen bottom
  • Lots of rides and riders
  • Evelyn Hermanson, top, and Phyllis Sjothun, dinner help
  • Cal Jacobson, Mitch Mahrer, Joe Mahlstrom cooking abelskievers. Janice Christensen keeps the batter coming.
  • Quilt Show
  • Rommegrat at the PO (Casper Syverson, red sweater, Izetta Colvin, standing). Rosettes (Sharon Pearson & Donetta Hoistad)at the Insurance building.
  • More rides

Uffda!

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UffdaSignThe 34th Annual Uffda Day is in the history books. The month is ending and it seems that the busy Sunday was a long time ago. Despite the forecast for rain and the cool weather, this year’s event was very well-attended. The Rutland Community Club is still evaluating the activities of the day, the information booth location, vendor spaces and other items to see where things need to be changed for next year. Yes, planning goes on all year long for Uffda Day. Thanks to everyone in the community who put in long hours for the weeks and months before and all throughout the day. A large thank you to everyone who attended the event. We must admit that there were a few more out-of-town guests participating in the Uffda Day Parade this election year. Take a glimpse at some photos taken during the day. Maybe you will find yourself in the picture(s).  If not, you better come back next year for another photo op!  Uffda Day 2018 in pictures is fun to see!