An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a position in Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one may well love to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes take time and effort to find with this particular devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, residence of less than 500 folks throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No person else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau received Ill and Fed up with remaining disregarded from the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every location in Florida requires a festival. And not a single position in Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm producing this up. For those who have gone to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know It is just a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some really strong possum politicians over the early '80s. Listed here are a pair of factors they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That check here led for the developing With all the monument along Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained The us Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable through giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a spot to guidance its once-a-year Entertaining Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the Competition appeals to Many of us annually, and In addition they come across it irresistible.
Trip for lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unattractive entire body only at night. That's why, if you find yourself within the correct commit Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it really is easy to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription with the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's function in furnishing 'the two fur and food items' with the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has offered a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in typical periods and possesses been an essential help to human survival in moments of distress and important will need.'
Snicker if you like. The persons of Wausau will snicker with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.