A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a place in position Florida that created a 12-foot-higher monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual could love to do that?
Properly, to get started on, heroes acquire effort and time to research Within this location in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of fewer than 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the minimum? No one else places the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with currently being ignored from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every location in Florida wants a Competition. And never one particular spend Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you most likely will think I'm making this up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know this is a true Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some very powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here are some things they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature read more to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the creating from the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got America Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by offering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a region to maintain its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals each year, and so they come across it irresistible.
Day out For several educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, while you are throughout the right spend Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not complicated to capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription within the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both equally fur and food' through the whole hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence below has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary situations and incorporates been a substantial help to human survival in the course of times of distress and demanding need.'
Giggle for those who'd choose. The people today of Wausau will chuckle coupled with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.