Antique hunters with the television program “American Pickers” are scouting out the Powell region and may soon scour local yards, garages, sheds and barns for unique treasures.“People may think it's just junk, but these guys know what they're looking for,” said Gina Vogel with the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives with “American Pickers,” a History Channel program, recently contacted the Powell chamber and said they will be in the region, looking for places to “pick.”

What is “picking?”

“Call it treasure hunting, dumpster diving, modern archaeology or recycling America. No matter how you define picking, this is definitely not your grandmother's antiquing,” said the show's website.

On the hit TV program, expert pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz travel around the U.S., uncovering treasures that provide a history lesson and a glimpse at American life, according to the site.

The Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce is asking residents to send photos and descriptions of their collections, in hopes that the show will select the Powell area for one of its episodes.

Vogel said she's a fan of “American Pickers,” and she hopes Powell treasures will lure the famous antique hunters to the area.

If community members provide an abundance of descriptions and photos, that increases the likelihood that Powell could be chosen as a film location. Show producers didn't specify a deadline — other than “this summer” — but Vogel is asking residents for a prompt response.

“The sooner, the better,” she said. To send items of interest, e-mail info@powellchamber.org or call 754-3494. Be sure to include your name, city, state and contact information in correspondence.