"The Story Trek" Came to Town, and I Got to Watch the Action: Live Reality TV in Southern Virginia

Todd Hansen is a master story-teller who believes that every person has something important to say, and he's on a mission, traveling the country searching for a story. He happens to be the host of BYUtv's reality tv show entitled, "The Story Trek," and his cross country searching led him right here to Halifax County, Virginia.
Have you ever dreamed of closing your eyes, putting your finger down anywhere on a map, and following it in whichever direction it leads? No pondering, no planning, just a finger on a random dot on a map leading the way?  That's exactly what the crew of The Story Trek does every time they film a new episode. Recently, they laid down their map and dropped a pen on it. They decided to travel wherever the pen landed in order to get their next story. It landed on Wyliesburg, Virginia, just minutes north of Halifax County in beautiful, rural, neighboring Charlotte County, and thus began their adventures in filming right here in Southern Virginia.

Before arriving in the area on September 29, The Story Trek crew's producer Nichole Coombs contacted the Halifax County Tourism Department.  Director of Tourism Linda Shepperd assisted the group, coordinating their accommodations at Berry Hill, offering information about the area, suggesting ideas of where to go and what to do, and agreeing to be interviewed on film as a part of the episode.  I was able to meet with the film crew at Berry Hill Plantation on their first day of filming, and watched as Linda was interviewed in the parlor of the antebellum mansion.
On the morning of September 30, antiquity met modernity as the film crew unloaded and set up cameras, mics, and lighting in the parlor of Berry Hill, where host Todd Hansen found a piano, proving that this journalist with an ear for a good story has quite an ear for music, as well.

Linda was a natural on camera, and an excellent spokesperson for our Halifax County. She discussed the history, industry, change, and progression of the area. She described the wide open spaces, the rugged outdoors, and the sophisticated indoors, posing the question, "When you have both, why do you have to choose?" The answer, of course, is that you don't. When in Halifax County, Virginia, you can have both. We are so glad we had the opportunity to share that message with the world through this meaningful and inventive reality tv show.  

Many thanks to The Story Trek producer Nichole Coombs for your efforts, professionalism, and for reaching out to Halifax County Tourism, and to host Todd Hansen.  Also, many thanks to the crew, which included Mike Fugal (Lead Audio), Matt Kjar (Photographer), and Andy Bork (Director of Photography). It was such a pleasure to meet you all and to see you in action.  Pictured below in front of Berry Hill Plantation's grand staircase are, from left to right, Halifax County Tourism Director Linda Shepperd, Matt Kjar, myself, Nichole Coombs, Mike Fugal, Andy Bork, and Todd Hansen.

The Story Trek crew filmed in our area over the course of four days. While here, they continued their pen-on-a-map method of discovering people and stories. I have no idea where they landed while here, nor do I know whom they interviewed. I will be seeing and hearing the stories for the first time with the rest of their viewers, and I am looking forward to watching with much anticipation. The Story Trek featuring Wyliesburg, Virginia, and Halifax County, Virginia, will air on BYUtv sometime this November or December 2014. We will be sure to keep you informed as to the exact date and time that the show airs. In the meantime, please enjoy this clip of The Story Trek to get a sense of what the show is all about. I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to seeing what magic Todd Hansen and the crew will make and what stories The Story Trek crew will take away from our home here in Southern Virginia.

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