An area in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a devote Florida that built a twelve-foot-significant monument throughout city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to do that?
Nicely, initially off, heroes are tough to search out with this particular place in position Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, home of fewer than five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and tired of remaining left out in the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each put in Florida wishes a Competition. Rather than one dedicate Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've hardly ever visited Washington County, you probably will Feel I'm producing this up. Should you have attended Washington County, you can comprehend - and know this is a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very impressive possum politicians while in the early '80s. Here's some things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the creating Using the monument along State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even read more obtained The us Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by means of offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have an area to hold its once-a-year Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the Pageant draws in lots of folks Each and every and annually, additionally they discover it irresistible.
Trip for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its ugly overall body only in the evening. This is why, when you find yourself within the proper devote Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not challenging to catch (or shoot) just one.
An inscription over the monument during Wausau cites the possum's position in offering 'equally fur and food' with the total hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in ordinary occasions and possesses been an important help to human survival during periods of distress and critical have to have.'
Giggle if you'd desire. The men and women of Wausau will snicker together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.