JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – As one of the biggest fundraisers for the Jamestown Rural Fire Department, the annual Ice Fishing Tournament brings out over a thousand each year.

Jamestown Rural Fire Department Fire Chief Ben Maudling expects nothing different for their 10th year.

Originally a fundraiser put on by the Eagles Club and Dakota Anglers club, a void was created once the Eagles shutdown and the event was stopped. Maulding says this is when the JRFD and Knights of Columbus took over.

With over 30 different sponsors, Maulding says the fundraiser is easily one of the bigger ones in the area. He listed five of their 38 total prizes, which adds up to around $127,000 in all.

Maulding says the funds have helped out the JRFD immensely.

“The funds have been used to purchase equipment and trucks for the department,” Maulding stated. “Unit 206 which was purchased by the department with funds from fishing tournament and State insurance check.”

The tournament is set for this Saturday at the Jamestown Reservoir and will have hundreds of anglers out on the ice all day.

For more on the tournament, visit www.jrfd.org or their Facebook page. Find some photos from the 2017 event and isten to a full interview with Fire Chief Ben Maulding below:

All photos courtesy of the Jamestown Rural Fire Department.