Born in Arborfield in 1951, Fred later moved to Carrot River where he still lives. In 1976, he married his wife Terry and they have since had three children: Lisa (deceased), Morgan and Gina.

During his younger years, Fred worked on the oil rigs in the winter and farmed in the summer. In the mid-1980s he obtained his commercial pilots license and started aerial spraying to diversify his farm.

Fred has served on Carrot River Town Council; the Pasquia Park board; the Arborfield Dehy board; and as a member of the Carrot River United Church Choir. He has been involved with the Fire Department; as a Boy Scout Leader; and is also a past president and director of the Saskatchewan Aerial Applicator Association. Additionally, Fred served on the founding board of the Northeast Early Childhood Intervention Program.

First elected in November 2007, Fred was re-elected in the 2011, 2016 and 2020 provincial elections. He has served Saskatchewan as Legislative Secretary responsible for Forestry and Wildfire Management and Heavy Oil and Northern Resource Development as well as Chair of the Standing Committee on Crown and Central Agencies.

Fred has previously served in Cabinet as the Minister of Highways and as the Minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.