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

There's a area in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-high monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one may well like to do that?
Perfectly, to get started with, heroes are difficult to seek out inside of this area in Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, residence of less than 500 folks in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to say the the very least? No one else places the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with staying ignored of the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every place in position Florida needs a festival. And never one location in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm Consequently, building this up. When you've got frequented Washington County, you are going to realize - and know this can be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are two or three factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the creating from the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The us Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to carry its yearly Entertaining Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Pageant attracts Lots of individuals on a read more yearly basis, plus they obtain it irresistible.
Outing for a great deal of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly system only during the night time. That's why, Should you be inside right position in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it really is not so difficult to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's job in delivering 'the two fur and food stuff' with the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has presented a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal situations and is made up of been a major enable to human survival during times of distress and demanding want.'
Chuckle if you like. The men and women of Wausau will chortle along - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.