A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a commit Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual desire to perform that?
Properly, to get started on, heroes are difficult to come by on this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, property of fewer than 500 folks in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau acquired sick and fatigued with getting ignored in the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every place in position Florida needs a Pageant. And not one set in position Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't gone to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am producing this up. When you've got long gone to Washington County, you may comprehend - and know Here is the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some really impressive possum politicians through the early '80s. Here i will discuss certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the setting up within the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress read more to advertise the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to aid its once-a-year Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the festival attracts Many individuals each year, and In addition they adore it.
Day out For a lot of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will carry out?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its ugly entire body only during the night time. This is why, once you find yourself inside of right invest Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', as a result it is not hard to capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for that monument all through Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'equally fur and foods' from the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in regular situations and it's got been A vital help to human survival a lot more distress and critical want.'
Chuckle if you want. The people of Wausau will snicker with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.