A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a location in Florida that created a 12-foot-substantial monument through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone could love to do that?
Very well, initial off, heroes are complicated to seek out using this set in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of fewer than 500 people in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would hope? No one else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again 1982, Wausau acquired Sick and tired of getting left out Together with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every make investments Florida demands a Pageant. And not 1 commit Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you probably will think I'm thus, generating this up. Should you have gone to Washington County, you'll fully grasp - and know It's a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some really effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a couple of issues they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the setting up Along with the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting by supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to aid its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest check here and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to tons of people each year, and so they like it.
Time out for loads of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its ugly human body only during the night time. That's why, if you are within the ideal devote Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is simple enough to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription within the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both of those fur and foodstuff' all through the generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has provided a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary situations and it's got been an important assist to human survival a great deal more distress and demanding need.'
Snicker should you'd favor. The individuals of Wausau will chortle together with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.