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

There's a location in Florida that crafted a 12-foot-superior monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person may possibly like to do that?
Very well, initially off, heroes are challenging to come back by in just this set in place Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland- Wausau, dwelling of lower than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to state the the very least? No one else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau got Ill and weary with being disregarded from the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Just about every place in Florida would like a festival. And not just one commit Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got by no means been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am making this up. When you've got been to Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know this can be a genuine story.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some quite powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share some things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the creating of the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the fun by means of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a region to carry its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Pageant attracts A lot of people annually, plus they locate it irresistible.
Trip For numerous educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will conduct?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unappealing system only at night. This is exactly why, if you are while in the correct devote Florida, you could hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is not so tricky to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription within the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in furnishing 'both fur and food' through the whole centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has offered a read more source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary occasions and it has been a crucial support to human survival in moments of distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle should you'd prefer. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.