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

There is a commit Florida that built a 12-foot-high monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual could possibly love to do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes get time and effort to come by in this commit Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of much less than 500 people in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No one else places the possum above a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau got fed up with becoming omitted in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every put in Florida would like a festival. And not 1 commit Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've by no means attended Washington County, you probably will Assume I'm building this up. If you have visited Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know This can be the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are several points they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your making on the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought read more The us Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to help keep its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the festival appeals to tons of people each and every year, and in order that they locate it irresistible.
Time out for a few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, when you are within the proper area in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is not so challenging to lure (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription with regards to the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' through the total centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence listed here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in usual periods and is made up of been an essential support to human survival in times of distress and important want.'
Chortle if you like. The individuals of Wausau will giggle together - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.