An area in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a set set up Florida that constructed a 12-foot-significant monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual would like to perform that?
Effectively, to begin with, heroes are complicated to research in this invest Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, dwelling of less than five hundred individuals in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to state the the very least? No person else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, last 1982, Wausau received Bored with currently being overlooked through the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida would like a Competition. And not a single position in Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am creating this up. If you have been to Washington County, you can expect to have an understanding of - and know This may be a true Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some pretty powerful possum politicians in the early '80s. Here are a pair of points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making inside the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to hold its once-a-year Fun Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the Pageant draws in Many individuals on a yearly basis, moreover they like it.
Outing for a few educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unpleasant body only during the night time. That is why, when you end up within ideal make investments Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is simple adequate to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription over the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's job in providing 'each fur and meals' in the course of the total hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence below has furnished a resource of nutritious and here flavorful food in normal times and it has been a crucial support to human survival when in distress and critical have to have.'
Chuckle if you want. The people today of Wausau will giggle along - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.