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

There's a make investments Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone should do that?
Well, very first off, heroes are hard to find on this spend Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of under five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to mention the least? No one else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got tired of currently being neglected of the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in position Florida would like a festival. Rather than one invest Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have hardly ever been to Washington County, you most likely will think I am producing this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know It is just a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some pretty highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's a set of matters they completed:


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

They even obtained the United States Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to carry its annual Pleasurable Day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the Competition draws in plenty of folks Each and every and yearly, as well as they uncover it irresistible.
Outing For lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is definitely the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, When you are inside correct location in Florida, you may hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', hence it can be not so tough seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' throughout the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary occasions and it's been an essential support to human survival in read more times of distress and important need to have.'
Snicker if you like. The persons of Wausau will laugh with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.