GRANITE FALLS, Minnesota, May 14, 2026 — New stories from across the region continue in Season 17 of Postcards Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on Pioneer PBS.
The episode features long-time Minnesota resident Wanda Bahmet, originally from Ukraine, who shares her story of surviving a World War II Nazi-occupied work camp as a child and building a life in the United States after the war.
Her family was forced into a work camp, where they remained for the rest of the war. Bahmet recalls a moment from her time in the camp and the fear that came with it.
“Actually, during German occupation, if you had a radio, you would go to prison or you could get shot for that,“ recalls Bahmet.
Afterward, she immigrated to the United States, raised a family and stayed connected to her Ukrainian roots through music.
“Wanda’s a special person, full stop. She has a lot to teach us. At her age, she has seen world history in a front row seat, “ said F. Barry Schreiber from the Mille Lacs County Historical Society.
The episode also features roots rock band Clay Fulton and the Lost 40, who hosted their first annual music celebration, “Heading Up North,” showcasing regional music and artists, at the historic Chateau Theatre in downtown Rochester.
The event brought together performers and audiences from across the region, highlighting the strength and collaboration within Minnesota’s music community.
Fulton and his five fellow band members came together in spring 2021, creating a fusion of gritty American, folk and classic rock while developing a close-knit friendship along the way.
“I think Minnesota is a pretty spectacular creative community; I feel more that vibe of everyone being on the same team rather than being in competition, and that’s kind of the Minnesota music scene,” said Fulton.
Postcards rebroadcasts Sundays at 7 p.m. and Mondays at 1:30 p.m. following the initial airing on Pioneer PBS.
How to Watch
Viewers within the viewing area can watch the live program on 10-1, 20-1, 8-1, Dish, DirecTV and Mediacom.
In addition to station broadcasts, viewers in Pioneer PBS’s viewing area can also stream the premiere live at pioneer.org/live, on YouTube TV, Prime Video, Hulu Live, or via the “Live TV” button on the PBS app and pbs.org.
Full episodes can also be streamed at pioneer.org/postcards, the PBS app, the Postcards YouTube channel and pbs.org/show/postcards/.
Support
Due to recent funding cuts to Pioneer PBS and other PBS stations across the nation, shows, particularly local programming like Postcards, that you love are in jeopardy. Consider becoming a member of Pioneer PBS to support the programs you love. For more information, including how to support Pioneer PBS, visit pioneer.org.
About Postcards
Postcards is an award-winning art, culture and history program produced by Pioneer PBS. The team of Postcards consists of series producer Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. Additional editing is provided by Mike Scholtz, Brad Keeley and Justin Streichman. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with additional funding from Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism, West Central Initiative, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies, Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) and members of Pioneer PBS.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966 Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota with the world. For more than 60 years, Pioneer PBS has amplified local voices and reflected the people, places, and issues that matter most to our region.
Headquartered in Granite Falls, Minnesota, with towers in Appleton, Worthington and Fergus Falls, Pioneer PBS reaches more than one million viewers across western Minnesota, the eastern Dakotas and northern Iowa. We are honored to be your television station—the only station in western Minnesota telling your stories. As we celebrate 60 years of storytelling, we invite you to help ensure these stories continue for the next 60 years and beyond.
Learn more at pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.
