A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a set in position Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-significant monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to do that?
Effectively, initial off, heroes take effort and time to investigate on this invest Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, household of much less than 500 folks in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back again in 1982, Wausau obtained Bored with staying neglected Along with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida requires a festival. Rather than a person place set up Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am As a result, earning this up. Should you have gone to Washington County, you will recognize - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some quite potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a handful of items they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your building Using the monument along State Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained The usa Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the get more info fun by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have an area to carry its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other matters, the festival draws in heaps of folks yearly, and In addition they adore it.
Outing for a few educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant human body only in the evening. This is exactly why, Should you be In the ideal invest Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not tricky to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription for that monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'both fur and food stuff' through the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has supplied a resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in usual occasions and it's got been A necessary help to human survival a lot more distress and important require.'
Giggle should you'd like. The people of Wausau will laugh as well as you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.