More about us!
Mike and Pam were married
to each other in 1986 and together have 7 children and 13 grandchildren, as of
March 2001 that is!
Mike has been a sheet metal worker for most of his life and Pam has worked in several different capacities in an orthopedic manufacturing company for most of her life.
In the early 1990's they directed a puppet ministry and had up to 14 other younsters and adults who traveled with them on weekends giving testimonies of how knowing Jesus has changed their lives, and of course doing puppet shows.
As the years passed, they decided to attend a "Clown Ministry College" put on by the "One Way Street" Christian puppet ministries company. This is just a 4 day conference where they learned how to apply make up and lot's of other helpful things which every clown needs to know! They've attended every year but one since!
Mike says it only takes him half as long to put on his clown face as it does Pam because he's already half way there to begin with!
Pam says Merkie (Mike) is really the "funny" clown and a natural at it, while Missfit (Pam) just likes to tag along with Merkie and enjoys sharing how God's love can make a difference in anyone's life.
Here's a picture of Merkie without his makeup (click here)
"The Possum Ranch" came to be when the Dickson's had their home built on a 5 acre plot of ground out in the country and Mike jokingly nicknamed it such. They were doing puppet shows and when asked "What do you call yourselves?" Not knowing what to answer Mike said, "The Possum Ranch Puppets!"
("And Clowns" was then added a few years later.)
Then they began a frantic search for a possum puppet and thanks to a tip from a fellow puppeteer were able to order some from California.
Their possum puppet's names are:
Perkins and Pearly Mae and it's their job to keep all the critters on the ranch warm, fed, and in line. (Which must be quite a task considering the wide array of critters!)