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

There's a invest Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to do that?
Well, initial off, heroes are challenging to exploration on this spend Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, household of less than five hundred individuals 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 puts the possum around the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with becoming disregarded inside the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every invest Florida demands a Competition. And not 1 commit Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never frequented Washington County, you most likely will Assume I'm producing this up. If you have absent to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some quite potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Allow me to share a pair of factors they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the constructing with the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even received The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to maintain its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant attracts Many of us on a yearly basis, as well as they adore it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners right 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 click here exhibits its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is why, For anyone who is inside of right put in place Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is very simple more than enough to entice (or shoot) 1.
An inscription within the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'each fur and food items' over the whole hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal moments and possesses been an important aid to human survival during occasions of distress and important have to have.'
Snicker if you love. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.