Tag: Farmers Market

The Rooster Crows – July 9, 2021

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by Bill Anderson

“All day we’ve faced the barren waste without a taste of water. Cool, clear water.” Sang The Sons Of The Pioneers years ago, and their words were about to become the 2021 theme song for Rutland and vicinity, until the morning of Tuesday, July 6, when the hot, dry barren waste was replaced by cool, clear water in the form of a 60 degree temperature reading and a misty, drizzly rain that was not a desert mirage but the real thing. It wasn’t a big rain, but, as The Assembled Wise Men observed, “It was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.”  Roger Pearson reported .3 of an inch in his rain gauge on the east end of Gay Street, Mark Wyum reported .6 of an inch at his farmstead about 2 miles northeast of town, Jesse Brakke’s electronic gauge between Rutland & Cayuga recorded .46 of an inch of rainfall; DuWayne Baldwin reported .47 of an inch of precipitation south of Geneseo; and, Chuck Anderson’s gauge at the Anderson’s Weber Township farm 5½ miles southwest of town held .58 of an inch of blessings from Heaven; when the rain stopped. The relatively cool weather that is predicted for the rest of the week will allow the rain to soak in and do some good for the growing corn and soybean crops. According to Mr. Baldwin, the corn plants have perked up their ears and the beans are smiling.

Former Rutland community members Bill & Mary Woytassek paid a visit to their old friends in the old home town on Wednesday, June 30. The Woytasseks had been on a vacation trip to Granite Falls MN on the previous weekend, and decided to pay a visit to Rutland on their way back to their home at Detroit Lakes MN. They pulled in on the evening of Tuesday, June 29, parked their travel trailer in the Rutland RV Park, and then stopped in at the Rutland Seniors Center on Wednesday morning to catch up on the news and have coffee with the home folks.

Dave Kulzer, who has been visiting in Rutland since Monday, June 28, went out for lunch with the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) group at Noon on Thursday, July 1. Regulars included: Dale McLaen; Mark Wyum; Bruce Peterson; and, Bill Anderson.  Guests were: Jackie Peterson; Kathy Wyum; and, Dave Kulzer. This was the first outing for the ROMEO group since March of 2020, and they chose to check out the fare at the Geneseo Bar, which they found to be excellent. Charter members of the ROMEO group were: the late Earl Cramton; the late Richard Bradbury; Mark Wyum; and, Dale McLaen. The resumption of their weekly meeting is one more sign that life is returning to normal since the covid-19 pandemic has loosened its grip.

Speaking of covid-19, the pandemic may havelessened its ferocity since vaccines became available, but it is still a threat to public health. Statistics released last week indicate that 99.2% of those who have died of covid-19 during the month of June had not been vaccinated, while only 0.8% of those who died of the disease during the same period had received a vaccination. Sargent County Public Health District Administrator Brenda Peterson reports  that this County has not had an active covid-19 case since June 24, and her team is working to keep it that way. Sargent County has not quite reached the goal of having 70% of adults vaccinated by the 4th of July, but is continuing to work toward that goal, too.  To make an appointment to schedule a covid-19 vaccination, call: Sargent County Public Health at 724-3725; Forman Drug at 724-6222; or, Sanford Clinic at 742-3267.Paul Anderson reports from Spider Lake, near Nevis MN, that his grandson, Rhys Elfering, and granddaughter, Arlo Elfering, ages 2 and 4 months, respectively, were his guests at the lake on Friday, July 2. Rhys enjoyed piloting Grandpa’s pontoon, the SS Swamp Rat, around the lake, according to Paul.  Rhys & Arlo were accompanied by Paul’s daughter & son-in-law, Katie and Josh Elfering. The Elferings make their home in Seattle WA, and had flown back to the Midwest to visit family and friends over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Paul also reports that the Nevis area received 2½ inches of rain on the morning of Tuesday, July 6.  The rain was very welcome, as that area has missed out on even the small showers that have been keeping crops in Sargent County green and growing.

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The Rooster Crows – June 18, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Just when it seemed that the old refrain, “It ain’t gonna rain no more, no more…” was accurately predicting the future, Mother Nature said “That just ain’t so!” and sent a thunderstorm to slake the thirst of the Promised Land at about 3:30 a.m. on the morning of Friday, June 11. Roger Pearson’s rain gauge showed. 65 of an inch after the storm moved on and the weather cleared, while the gauge of his next door neighbor, Norbert Kulzer, indicated .75 of an inch from the same event. Mike Mahrer reported that the gauge out at Mahrer Construction’s shop, on the north side of town, also showed .75 of an inch on Friday morning, while Mark Wyum reported that .6 of an inch was measured at the Rob Wyum farm 3 miles north and 1 mile east of town; at the Steve Wyum farm 1 mile east and 1½ mile north of town; and, at the Mike Wyum farm, 1 mile east and 1 mile north of Rutland. The storm also pushed the oppressive heat and humidity that had afflicted this area since the end of May on to the east, replacing high humidity and temperatures in the upper 90’s and lower 100’s with drier air and temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s. It has been clear skies and beautiful weather since then. “There is naught so rare as a day in June, “the late Earl Anderson used to say, and the past week, up to Tuesday, June 15, has been a series of perfect examples of just what he meant. Lyle Erickson reports that the corn and soybean crops had been doing OK with existing soil moisture prior to Friday’s thunderstorm, but appeared to have been expending most of their energy sending roots down rather than stalks up. The rain has given them a boost, and they are now growing in the right direction, reaching for the sky. Lyle said that the extended period of heat did have an adverse effect on his wheat fields, though, as that crop now appears to be in the “boot” stage. That is, it is as tall as his 8” work boots and is heading out. An electric shaver may be needed for the wheat harvest this year.

A ceremonial detail from Rutland’s Bergman-Evenson Post #215 of The American Legion was at Calvary Cemetery in Fairmount ND at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4, to render honors at the interment of their late comrade, Richard Lysne of Rutland. Members from the Rutland Post included: Larry Christensen; Douglas Olstad; Roger Pearson; Ted Lee; and, Calvin Jacobson. A color Guard and Bugler from the Fairmount Legion Post and 2 members of the Army National Guard from Fargo completed the detail.

Rutland’s Roosters have hit a tough spot in their schedule recently. On Tuesday, June 8, the Roosters took on a tough team from Wyndmere at Lou Sanderson Field, and dropped 2 games to the visitors in front of the home town crowd. The Roosters have been playing well, but their opponents were playing better. Roger Pearson, an All-Star player with both the baseball & softball versions of the Rutland Roosters, is of the opinion that the new rules changing the strike zone and requiring less arch on the pitched ball have allowed hitters to get more power into their swings, resulting in more multi-base hits and home runs. Even though the final scores weren’t to the Roosters’ liking, the bratwursts, hot dogs and barbecue sandwiches at the Rutland Park Board’s concession stand were big winners with the fans at the ballpark. The Roosters’ next home games are scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, when they will take on the team from Havana at Lou Sanderson Field. Come on out to the ballpark to Root! Root! Root! for the home team, and have a good time doing it.

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The Rooster Crows – June 11, 2021

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By Bill Anderson

Hot! Hot! Hot! Hotter than the Hinges of Hades, with wind to boot. The temperature has been pushing, or pulling, the 100 mark every day since Memorial Day on Monday, May 31. The heat has roused up some thunderstorms with downpours and high winds, in some areas to our north, but nothing in Sargent County, so far. Here, it’s heat and wind, but no downpours. The corn, soybean and wheat crops appear to be tolerating these conditions pretty well as of Tuesday, June 8, but the sustained combination of high temperatures and high wind speeds is not conducive to a good harvest. Well, as the old-timers used to say, “Every day that it doesn’t rain is one day closer to the day that it will.” The rain will come. Will it be enough? Will it be in time? Just relax. Mother Nature will furnish the answers in her own good time, and nothing we can do will change her pace.

A crew from the Indigo Sign Co. of Fargo worked through the drizzly rain on Thursday, May 27, the last significant rain that has visited Rutland, to install the new Stock Growers Bank sign in front of the bank’s Rutland Station. The new sign replaced the Sargent County Bank sign that had been in front of the bank’s station here since it opened on November 1, 1976. The name changed on September 14, 2020, when the Sargent County Bank of Forman, Gwinner, Rutland, Milnor and Lisbon merged with the Stock Growers Bank of Napoleon ND. Signs at all of the Bank’s locations have been in the process of being changed since then. So long, Sargent County Bank, and a hearty “Welcome!” from the Rutland community to the Stock Growers Bank.

Bill Anderson, Bev & Norbert Kulzer, Joel Susag, Debbie Banish by the new sign

Family & friends of Orvis Pearson of Rutland gathered at the farm home of his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Betsy & Tyler Speich of Delamere, on Monday, May 31, to celebrate Orvis’ 96th birthday with him. Orvis grew up on the family farm east of Rutland and took over the farming operation when his parents, Gottfried & Martha (Anderson) Pearson retired in the early 1950’s. Their son, Randy, took over the farm about 30 years ago, but Orvis & his wife, Alphie, continued to make the farm their home base until moving to Four Seasons Villa in Forman back in 2019. Alphie passed away later that year. Orvis & Alphie’s grandson, Chris Pearson, now makes his home on the farm east of Rutland. Orvis many friends in the Rutland community extend congratulations and best wishes to him on the occasion of his 96th birthday. May there be many more.

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Hens Do Crow – Sept. 18, 2020

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People flocked to Rutland on Sunday, September 13, for the last Farmers Market of the 2020 season. There were thirteen vendors with fresh garden produce, beef products, canned and homemade goods along with education displays from the Sargent County Extension Office. The Rutland American Legion Auxiliary quickly sold out of their homemade goods and Diggers BBQ had another sold-out event. Everyone agrees that the Farmers Markets have been a welcome and successful event in Rutland and the word is that the Rutland Community Club plans to hold them again in 2021.

The Rutland City Council met on Monday, September 14th at City Hall, beginning with a public hearing on the 2021 budget. Following the budget hearing, the Council held its regular meeting and began with welcoming new member Colton Corry who had been appointed to the two-year vacancy on the Council. Bill Anderson attended the meeting and stressed the importance of every Rutland citizen being counted in the 2020 Census. He noted that everyone living in the US is required by law to be counted and it is important so that the City, County and State, receive their share of Federal funding. People are only required to respond to the questions regarding residency – that they live at the address and to report the other individuals who also live at the address. A telephone tree may be needed in Rutland to get an accurate count; the Census count ends September 30. The Council approved the 2021 budget, the City financial report and the payment of bills. The next City Council meeting will be Monday, October 5.

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Hens Do Crow! Sept. 11, 2020

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The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Virtual Musclewalk was Saturday, September 5, and Royce & Piper’s Rad Posse of friends and family members could be seen in their bright blue T-shirts as they walked through Rutland.  The Nelson’s, Maloney’s, Jacobson’s, Christensen’s, and other Rutland residents took time on the sunny afternoon to support the cause. This year’s event was done virtually due to the pandemic and they hope to have the MDA in-person walk again in 2021. The Rutland fundraising effort raised nearly $4000.00 to support MDA.  Congratulations to the Rad Posse for their annual participation and fundraising!

On Sunday, September 6, the Nordland Lutheran Church congregation welcomed Pastor Julie Johnson who began her ministry with the TNT Parish. The TNT Parish is comprised of Nordland Lutheran in Rutland along with Trinity Lutheran Church in Forman and Trinity Lutheran in Havana. Pastor Julie is a familiar face to many from this area where she grew up, but it has been over 40 years since she lived here. Her parents were Orville and Lila Nelson, who owned a farm not far from Silver Lake. Pastor Julie graduated from Sargent Central High School and then moved from the area. She has three children who live in Fargo. Pastor Julie most recently served the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church congregation in Hillsboro, ND. Welcome back home Pastor Julie!

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