ABOVE: MyTown Director and Host Cory Hepola, left, interviews Andy Traetow, Char Kahler and Wayne Kahler following the premiere of MyTown’s Fairmont episode on the afternoon of Saturday, Dec. 13, in the Performing Arts Center at Fairmont High School. The episode will be streamed to the public at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21, on the MyTown YouTube channel.

FAIRMONT — Two days remain until the My Town Fairmont episode airs to the public on the “My Town” YouTube channel.

Noting success from the premiere on Saturday, Dec. 13, Visit Fairmont Executive Director Brittany Hartman and Fairmont Economic Development Authority Coordinator Ned Koppen, two of three individuals who closely collaborated with My Town Director and Host Cory Hepola, are anticipating even more positive reactions from the community when the episode officially releases.

The episode dives deep into the stories of locals. Featured in it are community members Char and Wayne Kahler and their business, Kahler Automation, Fairmont Area Schools Superintendent Andy Traetow and Hugoson Pork Owner and Director of Operations Angie Toothaker.

“What I love the most about the episode is that it shows how much our community comes together,” Hartman said. “It was great to see the community come and support this. It’s an asset to our community to show and promote all the good things that we have here in Fairmont.”

“I thought the episode was great. We had high expectations going in, we were very, very hopeful, and it really lived up to what we’d hoped it would be,” Koppen added. “I think just the overall product was great.”

Hartman reported a 100-plus-person attendance at the premiere in the Performing Arts Center at Fairmont High School. Following the episode, which is approximately a half-hour long, Hartman received a generous amount of feedback within the event’s questions-and-answers time and from additional comments following the event.

“Talking with people… Many are very excited for the show to come out and share it with their friends and family. I’ve heard nothing but positivity come from this,” Hartman said.

She hopes to possibly see more My Town episodes and similar attention to Fairmont in the future.

“I think it’s great to shine a light on our community,” she said. “The more episodes the better, and I will say to you, the My Town episode, it’s only the beginning. We only showed a sliver of what our community has. There’s so much more to it.”

“Anything we can do to help promote Fairmont is great, and I think that we have so much to offer and we’re just scratching the surface of letting people know all the things that are great about Fairmont,” Koppen said.

In addition, Hartman hopes that those who have already viewed the episode will share it, continuing to draw more attention to the episode and Fairmont overall.

“It’s important for people to share because it creates a sense of community pride. It’s showing the people who we are proud of, Fairmont and that we’re proud of what we have. I think people should watch the episode because it just showcases what a great place Fairmont is to live work, visit and play,” she stated.

Hartman hopes the episode’s display of Fairmont lifestyle and culture through the four individuals featured in MyTown will provoke visitors and new residents into the town. Koppen explained he is also anticipating witnessing excitement from viewers after watching this portrayal of Fairmont.

“The hope is to have people talking about Fairmont; visiting here, moving here, staying here and why they choose to call Fairmont home,” Hartman expressed. “The mission of the My Town series is to explore why people choose to live in rural towns and challenge the misconceptions about rural living. I think it’s great that all of us worked together on this episode. We’re helping bring people here, whether that be for a visit or for people to move here or to build here. How I see it is it starts with a visit, and somebody is interested in moving here a building here, they have to visit Fairmont first.”

The episode can be found beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 on Youtube.