A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a put set up Florida that built a twelve-foot-superior monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody would like to accomplish that?
Nicely, first off, heroes are difficult to come back by on this location in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, dwelling of fewer than five hundred folks throughout Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the the very least? Nobody else places the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Sick and tired of remaining ignored during the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every devote Florida demands a Competition. And never a person place in position Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm building this up. In case you have frequented Washington County, you can understand - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share two factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your constructing within the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to keep its annual Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Pageant draws in a lot of men and women annually, additionally they like it.
Time out For a lot of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, after you end up inside the right invest Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', for that click here reason it truly is very simple plenty of to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with regard to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'both of those fur and foods' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard periods and possesses been a significant support to human survival considerably more distress and demanding want.'
Chuckle If you prefer. The individuals of Wausau will snicker with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.