By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Postmark LaFollette and WLAF have partnered together for a new project called the Campbell County Trunk Show.  The first episode will air on Wed., Sept. 9, at 8:30 p.m., on WLAF’s Channel 12.  The TV show will focus solely on Campbell County and its local traditions, history and culture.

Postmark LaFollette co-founders Karen Cumorich and JoAnne McCloud Meyers came up with the idea for the project as a way to showcase the history, traditions, culture and uniqueness of Campbell County.

Brad Smiddy is the media director for the project and he described the show as a mix of “Antique Roadshow meets American Pickers meets the Heartland Series.”

“It’s a show for Campbell Countians by Campbell Countians,” Smiddy said.

The first episode is called “Heirloom Seeds: Our Heirlooms are the seeds of our future”, which is a fitting start to the whole of the project.

“We’re looking for people to pull these things out of the trunk and tell us about it. We want to feature people’s heirlooms and memories, to plant seeds for the future generations, so this culture and these local traditions can live on,” Smiddy said.

The first episode will feature interviews regarding the tradition of heirloom seeds, as well as native plants of our area. The episode will end with a short performance of Postmark Jamboree.

The project is being supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission with an Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant. It is a follow up to the traveling exhibit, the Smithsonian’s Museum on Mainstreet’s “Crossroads; Changes in Rural America,” which was sponsored by Humanities TN.

According to Smiddy, the project was originally intended to be a round table discussion with in person panels from Campbell County communities with the end outcome to produce a film. The Pandemic halted those plans, leading to the adaptation of the project to a local show.

According to Smiddy, “The idea to create the TV show was formulated because it could connect people, not only in our Campbell County community, but around the world by being brought directly to them via TV, online and local media such as flyers and print media.”

The grant covers a total of 10 episodes, which will be 40 minutes each and will run from September until June 2021.

The shows will air the second Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on WLAF Channel 12 as well as the Postmark LaFollette website and Facebook page.

Because they will be online, these shows can be seen from anywhere in the world and will “capture and document the heritage, history and legacy of Campbell County.”

Smiddy said organizers are looking for video submissions or suggestions for feature topics for future episodes.

Viewers are encouraged to tune in for the first show on Wed., Sept. 9, to learn how to make submissions for the show.

The goal is to have Campbell Countians who watch the show to share their past, their culture and their history with the world.
“It’s truly a connection for people in a time when it is needed. We want Campbell Countians to tell us their history, what are the things about Campbell County that are important to you,” Smiddy said.

Tune into WLAF-TV 12 on Wed., Sept. 9, at 8:30 p.m., for the first episode of the Campbell County Trunk Show.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/31/2020-6AM)