A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a dedicate Florida that created a twelve-foot-higher monument through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone choose to do that?
Effectively, to begin with, heroes are tricky to receive on this spend Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of underneath five hundred people in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else places the possum having a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and tired of getting disregarded Along with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual dedicate Florida wants a festival. And not a single place in position Florida incorporates a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I'm producing this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you will recognize - and know It is just a correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here i will discuss two or three items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the building inside the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to keep its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant attracts A huge number of folks each and every year, and Additionally they like it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unsightly human body only during the night time. That's why, If you're within appropriate put in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is not so difficult capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription for the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'the two fur and check here foodstuff' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual occasions and it has been a significant guide to human survival way more distress and critical require.'
Laugh if you like. The individuals of Wausau will giggle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.