“The Wolfe Man cometh!” That’s how I alert Deana Snow as I enter the Art and Antiques Gallery.

Deana manages the volunteer staff and assists visitors as they shop at the popular venue in good ol’ Glasgow. Originally from Texas, she’s been in Kentucky long enough to know and appreciate local history. When it comes to antiques, Deana has long understood and respected items that preserve past cultures.

“The American Picker is picking in Glasgow this morning. I’m here to watch him do his thing for a while,” I tell Deana. She knows I’m talking about Mike Wolfe because she’s met him during past visits to the Gallery.

As he comes into the Gallery, Mike is accompanied by Leticia Cline, a Cave City businesswoman. The couple have been close friends for the past several years and are often together as Mike travels the country for his work on the TV show “American Pickers”.

My wife is with me. She likes old stuff (that includes me) and she occasionally likes to see what’s offered in the various booths.

Others are already moving through the aisles, looking at the antiques.

After a moment of greeting one another, Mike tells me, “I’ve bought from here—everything from an old horse photograph to signs. There’s lots of folk art here.” He goes on to say, “Tish and I like coming down here.”

Mike also compliments exhibits at the Museum of the Barrens, near the Gallery, and Tish adds, “I like to support the Cultural Center. That’s our history.”

“I’m into anything that’s old,” Mike says. Then referring to “American Pickers,” he comments, “I enjoy the show and the interactions with the people. That’s how I first pitched the idea—it would showcase people.”

People seem to enjoy watching the shows as much as Mike enjoys making them. Now in its 17th season, the program has achieved a large viewership, even including Paul McCartney who is reported to have described “American Pickers” as a good show.

Mike moves through the Gallery and is constantly recognized by others. “Mr. Wolfe, I enjoy watching your show,” a fellow from Oregon remarks. That prompts an engaging conversation covering antiques, history, and geography.

Here and there in the building, Mike encounters fans who ask for selfies. He always seems happy to comply.

Mike discusses picking in the Midwest for early German and Scandinavian furniture, in Arizona and New Mexico for articles related to frontier life, in California for motorcycles and other transportation vehicles, and throughout America for various antiques. Mike says it’s a long drive between antique stores in his home state of Iowa, but the South has a flea market on every corner. He likes the South and especially those “places that have not been picked in a long time.”

We continue to talk, as Mike’s eyes dart from one item to another, looking for something of interest. He picks up a few to examine more closely. After talking about age, condition, and value, Mike selects a toy dog from the ‘50s and a small pitcher. These he takes to the front counter where Deana processes and wraps his order.

Before he and Leticia leave, Mike sees something he originally overlooked. “Well, that was the primary search,” he says with a sly smile, “now for the secondary search.”

Leticia laughs and tells us, “Sometimes his secondary search lasts longer than the first.”

I ask Mike, “How old does it have to be for an antique to become valuable?”

“It depends,” he says.

“How about you? Are you old enough?”

He shows that sly smile again and replies, “Well, “I’m 61 and I’m priceless!”