The North Dakota State Parade Committee has selected Dakota Fred (Fred Hurt) of the hit television program, Gold Rush, as the grand marshal of the 34th annual North Dakota State Fair Parade to be held on July 18 during the 50th North Dakota State Fair in Minot.

Fred was born in 1943 in Robstown, Texas, and is a seasoned gold miner. He began his life journey as a commercial diver in the Gulf of Mexico, doing construction, demolition, salvage and inspection. Then came 35 years of self employment in the pile driving and dock building business.

He sold his business and “retired” at 60. Fred and his wife, the former Lorrayne Leier of Bergen, moved back to Minot in 2004 to be near her family.

Retirement wasn’t quite enough, so Fred embarked on a new career and is in his 12th year as a gold miner, the majority of those years spent in Alaska. According to Fred, “Modern mining is responsible mining.”

Citing creative differences, Dakota Fred left the Gold Rush series after the fourth season and is currently working on his own series.

Hurt describes himself as an individualist, optimistic and persistent, overcoming adversity that life throws his way. “I’m also a very outgoing person, never meeting a stranger,” he said.

In his off-time from mining, Fred enjoys speaking at schools, photography, “meet and greet” sessions, traveling, collecting antique bottles and visiting family. Corporate sponsorships help supplement his income.

Speaking of family, he has four children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His wife died in February.