Locals attend a premier screening of the New Ulm episode of "My Hometown" held at State Street Theater.

NEW ULM – State Street Theater hosted the premier of the New Ulm episode of the “My Hometown” series, Wednesday.

The show was created by “Ladies of Another View” from the BEK News network of Bismarck, ND. Over the last three years, “Ladies of Another View” have hosted the “My Hometown” series, which conducts deep dives into towns across the midwest. Currently, there are around 50 episodes in the series, featuring towns in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.

Recently, show producers decided to create episodes on New Ulm and Sleepy Eye. Patti Armstrong served as the host for both episodes. In the New Ulm episode, Armstrong conducted five interview segments at Black Frost Distillery.

Segments included interviews with Turner Hall Executive Director Andrea Boettger; Park and Recreation Supervisor Liz Malloy, Tom Furth discussing German descendants; August Schell Brewery Vice President Kyle Marti and New Ulm Chamber of Commerce President Sarah Warmka.

Boettger talked about the history of Turner Hall and its influence of the Turner Society on New Ulm. Malloy spoke on the city’s extensive park system. Furth gave a rundown of New Ulm’s early German descendants, the background on the Hermann Monument and all the festivals held in town. Marti gave a history lesson on August Schell’s Brewery; including Oktoberfest and Bockfest celebrations. Warmka gave a summary of other interesting attractions and events, such as the recent Spikin’ in the Street sand volley ball tournament. She included the story of how she became a New Ulm resident after visiting Bockfest with husband years earlier.

Following the premier of the episode, State Street Theater treated the audience to a special Q&A session with Armstrong. She was unable to attend the premier in person, but appeared on a Zoom.

Armstrong was asked how New Ulm compared to other communities she researched for “My Hometown.” She said after doing 50 episodes of the show, she believed the New Ulm and Sleepy Eye episodes were head and shoulders above others.

“You guys have so much going on here,” she said.

In the episode, Armstrong acknowledged she could only scratch the surface of all the things happening in New Ulm.

“Every town has its own stories and treasures, but New Ulm is laden with treasures,” Armstrong said.

In the years since “My Hometown” began researching small towns, Armstrong said every town is living it’s own “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In some ways, each town is like the fictional Bedford Falls and every town has its George Bailey that makes a huge difference in it’s town story. Armstrong found many George Bailey types in New Ulm that have given the town great momentum.

For those who missed the premier, the New Ulm and Sleepy Eye episodes of “My Hometown” air on the BEK News network in April. Shows will air on BEK News 9: a.m. and 4:30 p.m. April 3 for Sleepy Eye; April 10 for New Ulm. The episode will also be available on the channel’s streaming app BEK TV+ and their website. The shows will be broadcast locally as well. 

Armstrong said they received permission to broadcast the episodes on KEYC in Mankato and New Ulm Cable Access Television (NUCAT).

The New Ulm episode will run at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 on KEYC-FOX. The Sleepy Eye episode will run 9:30 p.m. Wed.

April 24 on KEYC-FOX. Both shows will run as a two-hour block at 12 p.m. April 24 beginning with New Ulm episode and followed by Sleepy Eye.

NUCAT will air the New Ulm episode at 6 p.m. Friday, April 12 followed by the Sleepy Eye episode at 7 pm.

Armstrong said that because of the extra broadcasts on KEYC and NUCAT, the Sleepy Eye and New Ulm shows will be the most broadcasted “My Hometown” shows.