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

There's a put in Florida that created a twelve-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may like to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes choose effort and time to search out using this type of dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of under five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'll anticipate? Nobody else places the possum having a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and Sick and tired of remaining neglected of your Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every devote Florida needs a Competition. Instead of a single put in place Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am earning this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you are going to realize - and know it is a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share two items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the building from your monument together Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a site to keep its once-a-year Enjoyment Day and Possum Pageant. That includes website a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other points, the festival draws in A large number of people every year, additionally they find it irresistible.
Outing for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will carry out?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unappealing system only at night. That's why, whenever you find yourself inside the correct devote Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It can be straightforward seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription within the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'each fur and food stuff' during the total hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in usual times and contains been a crucial assist to human survival when in distress and significant need to have.'
Chuckle if you like. The folks of Wausau will laugh as well as you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.