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

There is a place in Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to do that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes consider time and effort to come by in this commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of below five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you should be expecting? No one else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau received fed up with being omitted through the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every single devote Florida desires a Competition. And not 1 set set up Florida has a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am causeing this being up. If you have frequented Washington County, you will recognize - and know This may be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share two items they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the creating While using the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to hold its once-a-year Pleasurable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Pageant attracts Lots of individuals each year, plus they adore it.
Time out for a few educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is why, if you're inside the correct put in place Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's read more easy to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription throughout the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'equally fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in usual instances and it has been a significant support to human survival in situations of distress and important need to have.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The folks of Wausau will giggle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.