2019 Possum Festival Program

August 2019 

www.WausauPossumFestival.com 50th Annual Wausau Possum Festival Program - August 2019 1

Dedicated To The Memory of Patricia D. ‘Pat’ Storm 

Patricia D. ‘Pat’ Storm was born July 24, 1951 to the late Leonard and Annie 

Mae Russell and was a lifelong resident of Washington County. In 1972 she 

got her Cosmetology License, working initially in the back room of Phillips 

Hardware in Wausau. After several years she relocated to Sixth Avenue in 

Wausau and operated ‘Unique Hair Fashions’, until retiring after 44 years of 

making people pretty. 

On April 5, 1985, she met John E. Storm, married and raised three children- 

Clifton Hathaway, Landon Hathaway (Tonia) and Brittnie Storm West. Pat 

also had seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

Pat loved her community and loved helping others, as a member of the 

Jaycees and Fun Day Committee, assisting with cooking and anything else 

that was needed. Pat loved to laugh and have fun- she was always smiling 

and having a good time. She ran for Wausau Possum Queen 14 times and 

won every time. 

In March, 2018, Pat was diagnosed with MDS Leukemia Cancer, against 

which she fought a tough battle, but on December 25, 2018 she gained her 

heavenly wings. Pat is sorely missed by her husband, family and friends, 

and she will always be with us in spirit, especially at the Wausau Fun Day 

Festival. 

Photos contributed by family members. 

2 50th Annual Wausau Possum Festival Program - August 2019 www.WausauPossumFestival.com


Welcome to the 50th Annual Wausau Possum Festival 



There have been a lot of changes in Wausau and Northwest Florida since 1970, 

the year the Wausau Possum Festival and Fun Day was created by Dalton 

Carter and the Wausau community. 

In 1970 there were no computers, digital cameras or electric cars. There was 

no internet, no cell phones, Facebook or Instagram. Our children ran around 

barefoot on occasion, stayed outside well after dark and even ran with scissors. 

Children rode in the back of pick-up trucks, and we didn’t even use seatbelts. 

Still, we managed to live a good life, full of promise and hope, and we loved and 

took advantage of most everything God gave us- sunshine, the old swimming 

hole and the culture and heritage of Northwest Florida. 

The world has changed in the last 50 years, but this festival remains- still paying 

homage to our history, heritage and simpler way of life, and we wouldn’t have 

it any other way. Thanks for being our guest at the 50th anniversary of what 

started out as a dream to put Wausau on the map and give people something to 

do during the ‘dog days’ of Summer. When you return home after the festival, 

think back fondly of the peace and quiet, quality of life and relaxed lifestyle of this 

Wausau community. Enjoy! 

The Wausau Possum Festival Program 

is produced and published by 

Now in Print, on Radio & TV and Online 

MAGAZINE STAFF 

Publisher- Real Florida Media 

Editor- Paul Goulding 

Production Manager- Debbie Goulding 

Photographers- Ryan Ward, Debbie 

Goulding, Tona Skipper, Ashley Canter 

Advertising Sales- Debbie Goulding 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Real Florida Magazine 

PO Box 615 

Chipley, Florida 32428 

850-258-2546 

Debbie@TheGouldingAgency.com 

NEWS & EDITORIAL SUBMISSION 

News@TheGouldingAgency.com 

GENERAL INQUIRIES 

Info@TheGouldingAgency.com 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2010-2019 

REAL FLORIDA MEDIA 

Real Florida Media offers consultation, design, 

public relations & production of photo and video 

imaging, in print or online, and we specialize in 

corporate and political campaigns. Unless otherwise 

noted, all photographs in this publication 

were taken by Real Florida Media, a subsidiary 

of The Goulding Agency in Chipley, Florida. 


Wausau Celebrates Northwest Florida Beauty with ‘Miss Funday’ 

Although not held this year due to extenuating circumstances, one of the highlights of 

the Wausau Possum Festival is the ‘Miss Funday’ Pageant (not to be confused with 

the ‘Possum King & Queen Contest’, held on the Friday evening prior to the festival). 

The ‘Miss Funday’ pageant is typically held on Saturday evening, one week before the 

festival, and there seems to be an unlimited supply of local beauties (and handsome 

young men) in the area, as the pageant event draws hundreds of attendees, all vying 

for the coveted trophies, ribbons, crowns and bragging rights in several categories. 

View this and other festival features at www.WausauPossumFestival.com. 










Commencing in the early morning hours with a pancake 

breakfast, progressing to a parade of seldom-seen size, 

feature or quality, then moving to musical entertainment, 

food and craft vendors and the world-famous Possum 

Auction, the Wausau Possum Festival literally offers 

something for everyone. Enjoy the history of the Possum 

Festival in many photo galleries and video clips online at 

www.WausauPossumFestival.com. 



Wausau Quilters Bring A Labor of Love to the Festival 

The small town of Wausau, Florida has many talented people, not the least of which, and one of the most often overlooked, 

are the Wausau Quilters, a dedicated group of young ladies who enjoy the fellowship of getting together regularly in the 

meeting room of the Wausau Town Hall to make quilts, a time-honored but sadly waning artform. 

Truly a labor of love, these beautiful hand-crafted quilts, made over hundreds of hours of tireless and painstaking effort, 

are donated to the Wausau Possum Festival each year as a fundraiser for the Town, and Wausau’s own Gil Carter, now 

serving as Washington County Property Appraiser, has historically been the top bidder at the Quilt Auction feature of the 

festival. Gil would appreciate you bidding against him in order to enhance the contribution to the Town of Wausau. 




SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 2019 

6:00 - Pancake Breakfast at Wausau Masonic Lodge (Wausau, FL) 

9:00 - Invocation and Welcome (Possum Palace) 

9:15 - ‘The Faithful Trio’ (Gospel @ Possum Palace) 

10:00 - Big 49th Annual Fun Day Parade- (Downtown Wausau) 

10:15 - ‘Billy Lipford’ - (Country @ Possum Palace) 

11:15 - Corn Pone Baking- Winners Announced (Possum Palace) 

11:30 - Flag Raising & National Anthem- (Possum Palace) 

12:00 - Big Possum Auction & Quilt Auction- (Possum Palace) 

1:00 - ‘Blue Holler’ - (Bluegrass @ Possum Palace) 

2:00 - ‘Billy Lipford’ - (Country @ Possum Palace) 

2:45 - ‘The Faithful Trio’ (Gospel @ Possum Palace) 

3:45 - ‘Blue Holler’ - (Bluegrass @ Possum Palace) 

4:30 - ‘Hog Callin’ (Possum Palace) 

FESTIVAL COMMITTEE 

Founder: Mr. Dalton Carter 

Chairman: Mr. Joe Tharp 

Parade ChairPerson: Mrs. Margaret Riley 

W.V.F.D. Chairman: Mr. Sam Rudd 

Arts & Crafts Contact: (850) 638-1781 

Entertainment Chairman: “Bunk” Corbin (850) 638-5023 

Information at www.WausauPossumFestival.com 


Welcome to the Festival! 

Welcome to the 50th Annual Wausau Funday 

and Possum Festival. The Wausau Volunteer Fire 

Department and the Wausau Development Club 

celebrates yet another year of the festival that was 

conceived by Dalton Carter in 1970. This year 

we continue to feature our heritage as we enjoy 

local food, music and fun. The ‘retro’ efforts of 

the festival revive some of the former attractions 

of this event, from greasy pole contests to sack 

racing to cross-cut saw competition. Woman’s Day 

Magazine named the Wausau Possum Festival ‘One 

of the ten most unique festivals in America’ and 

we have garnered national attention. We have 

been joined by Florida Governors, including most 

recently, Rick Scott. We have been fortunate to be 

highlighted in media- print, broadcast and onlineand 

people are getting to know and recognize our 

small town with the BIG festival, held on the first 

Saturday of August each year. 

The Funday Committee provides a wholesome 

family event, with entertainment at absolutely no 

cost to our guests, and we want all who attend to 

feel welcome. More importantly, we want you to 

leave with an appreciation for our volunteers. All 

profits go directly to the Wausau Volunteer Fire 

Department and Wausau Development Club, both 

non-profit organizations, and our activities include 

the Possum King And Queen Contests and much 

more. 

The Fire Department uses these funds to improve 

fire equipment and provide fire service to the 

citizens of Washington County and the City of 

Wausau. The Wausau Development Club primarily 

utilizes the funds it receives to award scholarships 

to deserving students in Washington County. We 

want to thank the Washington County Sheriff’s 

Office for their help, as well as all our volunteers 

and sponsors. We especially thank you, as our 

guest, because without you there would be no 

festival. Again, welcome and thanks for attending! 
















As seen in this array of cover art from the 

past eleven years of Possum Programs, 

we use photo images taken each year at 

the various events of the Wausau Possum 

Festival to highlight the fun, beauty and 

unique characteristics of the event, all of 

which have contributed to compel Women’s 

Day Magazine to declare the Wausau 

Possum Festival ‘One of the Most Unique 

Festivals in the World’. 2019, as the 50th 

occurrance of the festival, will prove to be 

no different as visitors are amazed at the 

display of regional culture, heritage and 

lifestyle. 


More Than You Need To Know About Wausau, Florida 

The small town of Wausau, Florida, population just over 

400, holds a very big title- ‘Possum Capital of the World’. To 

celebrate this ubiquitous animal, the town holds an annual 

Fun Day and Possum Festival, a totally free event on the 

first Saturday in August, and the world is invited. 

You’re likely to see local, regional and even national political 

figures at the Wausau Possum Festival, especially during 

election cycles, and the event was recently highlighted by 

Women’s Day Magazine as one of the ‘world’s most unique 

festivals’. 

Admittedly one of the most unusual festivals you are likely 

to attend, this event celebrates the Possum, a marsupial 

which thrives in this part of Florida and which helped the 

local population survive the Great Depression in the early 

20th century. 

Drawing attendees from all over the Southeast United 

States, the event is always held the first Saturday in August, 

and the scheduled entertainment includes Bluegrass, 

Country and Gospel performers. 

Arguably the hottest day of the year, the event includes a 

large parade, arts and crafts, food (try the possum stew and 

possum ice cream) and a Possum Auction. The annual 

Possum King and Queen Contest is held the evening 

prior to the Festival and this is something that you have to 

experience to believe. 

Wausau is in Washington County, Florida, United States, 

about 9 miles south of Chipley and Interstate 10. Wausau 

has a total area of 1.1 square miles, all of it land, and 

there are approximately 170 households, and 110 families 

residing in the town. This equates to a population density of 

around 352 people per square mile with a racial makeup of 

94.47% Caucasian, .50% African American, 0.75% Native 

American, 0.25% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 

3.52% from two or more aces. Hispanics or Latinos make 

up 2.51% of the population. 

The population consists of 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% 

from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, 

and 16.6% 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 

years and for every 100 females there are 94.1 males. For 

every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89 males. 

The median income for a household in the town is $21,000, 

and the median income for a family was $23,000. 

The per capita income for the town is $10,722 and about 

25% of families and 29.2% of the population were below 

the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 

19.7% of those aged 65 or over. Wausau has an elevation 

of 85 feet above sea level. 

All these (very dry) statistics aside, however, the reality is 

that Wausau, Florida, along with the rest of Washington 

County, offers what we like to call ‘The Real Florida’- a 

pristine, unspoiled slice of a very relaxed lifestyle and a 

quality of life sometimes all too hard to find. So enjoy your 

time here as our guest during the Possum Festival, but 

make plans to visit us again soon. You will find that there is 

a quality of life, accompanied by a laissez-faire attitude that 

is appealing and a refreshing change from urban or highpressure 

areas. You’ll find that this area is a great place to 

raise a family, relocate a business or to retire. 

For more information about Wausau, Florida and to view 

more photos, video clips, and interviews, visit us on 

Facebook at Real Florida Magazine, or listen to interviews 

on FPTC Radio, the voice of Florida Panhandle Technical 

College at www.FPTCRadio.com. 




A Unique Feature of a Unique Festival 

One feature of the Wausau Possum Festival that 

truly remains ‘one of a kind’ is the annual ‘King and 

Queen Contest’ held on the Friday evening prior 

to the festival. Competition is fierce as characters 

come from all over the region to compete for the 

trophies, bragging rights and cash prizes awarded 

to ‘Possum King’ and ‘Possum Queen’. Enjoy!

2019 Possum Festival Program

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