Alaska Pickers

Alaskans are generally hardscrabble folks. While not everyone lives off the land, most are used to making a little out of a lot. With that, comes what some might see as a hoarding tendency. Lots full of barely running cars and other mechanical equipment are fairly common across the state. Some might see that as a nuisance, but Kelly Turney sees it as a gold mine. Turney and his family are the latest batch of Alaskans to put their life on display on small screen in a new reality show “Alaska Pickers.”

Consider it “American Pickers”, with an emphasis on Alaska. Turney, his girlfriend, Becky Green, and their three children scour the state looking for pieces of Alaska memorabilia, which they then sell through their business “Alaska Picker”. Turney said that where “American Pickers” has gone a little soft (they're often seen picking through clean, organized garages and sheds) “Alaska” picks up. The pickers will go through anything, from abandoned buildings and barns to military bunkers. Navigating around squirrel droppings in Delta Junction? Done. Fairbanks? “We were stepping over dead moose carcasses, looking for out bears.”

All that in the hopes of scoring a good deal on an old item that Turney and his family refurbish for a profit. (Source: National Geographic Channel)