A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a devote Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person must do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are complicated to acquire in this commit Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, residence of fewer than 500 persons in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum in excess of a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, last 1982, Wausau received tired of remaining disregarded through the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every make investments Florida requires a Pageant. Rather than a person make investments Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never ever long gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am causeing this to be up. In case you have long gone to Washington County, you can expect to have an understanding of - and know it is a genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share two items they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the setting up within the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a locale to assistance its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Pageant draws in tons of folks annually, plus they like it.
Time out for lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will conduct?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its hideous human body only in the evening. This is why, if you find yourself within ideal devote Florida, you can hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it really is not tough to lure (or shoot) one.
An inscription regarding the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and foodstuff' from the centuries. It read more goes on to say: 'Their presence here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal occasions and contains been a vital assist to human survival far more distress and critical require.'
Chuckle if you want. The men and women of Wausau will chortle coupled with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.