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

There's a commit Florida that crafted a 12-foot-significant monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may well like to do that?
Well, to start out, heroes choose effort and time to come by On this place in Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, dwelling of a lot less than 500 persons in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again 1982, Wausau received sick and Weary of remaining ignored With all the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida needs a Pageant. And never one particular set in position Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm developing this up. Should you have visited Washington County, you may recognize - and know Here is the accurate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's a number of issues they attained:


They persuaded click here the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the creating within the monument alongside Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to help keep its yearly Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the Pageant attracts tons of people Each individual and every year, furthermore they like it.
Trip for your few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is definitely the equivalent lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unsightly entire body only at nighttime. That is why, when you're from the right location in Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is not difficult to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription about the monument during Wausau cites the possum's job in providing 'both fur and food stuff' from the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in regular periods and is made up of been an essential support to human survival when in distress and important require.'
Chuckle if you like. The folks of Wausau will chuckle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.