A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a devote Florida that created a 12-foot-large monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may like to do that?
Very well, to start out, heroes get time and effort to come by within this spend Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of much less than 500 individuals in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'd probably hope? No person else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again in 1982, Wausau got fed up with currently being ignored Along with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every make investments Florida requires a Pageant. Rather than just one devote Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got never attended Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am causeing this to generally be up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you can realize - and know Here is the real story.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some very highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a pair of matters they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your creating on the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by supplying the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the festival attracts A lot of people Each and every and annually, and so they like it.
Trip for some educating of Northerners below. The South's possum will be the equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its ugly human body only during the night. This is why, For anyone who is within the proper devote Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It really is basic enough capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription with the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's function in furnishing 'both of those fur and food' throughout the whole hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence here has provided a resource of nutritious and here flavorful meals in standard occasions and is made up of been a vital help to human survival when in distress and important need.'
Laugh if you like. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.