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

There's a make investments Florida that created a twelve-foot-significant monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone could possibly love to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes are difficult to analysis With this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of beneath 500 persons in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with being neglected Together with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every make investments Florida desires a Pageant. Instead of one place set up Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am Consequently, making this up. In case you have attended Washington County, you'll recognize - and know It is just a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some fairly potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two items they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making within the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to assistance its once-a-year Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant appeals to Many men and women Each and every and on a yearly basis, and so that they love it.
Day trip for any couple educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unsightly human body only in the evening. That is why, once you end up throughout the right invest Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It really is not so tricky to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription across the monument for the duration of Wausau check here cites the possum's purpose in giving 'each fur and food stuff' through the full centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has provided a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in regular periods and contains been a vital aid to human survival during times of distress and critical need.'
Chortle if you're keen on. The men and women of Wausau will chuckle together - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.