A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a position in Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody may love to do that?
Effectively, to get started with, heroes are tricky to come back by within just this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, household of lower than five hundred persons all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Weary of currently being ignored with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single area in Florida requires a festival. Instead of a person set in position Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm making this up. In case you have long gone to Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know this can be a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share a couple of things they accomplished:


They persuaded the get more info Florida Legislature to proclaim the very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing With all the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a spot to hold its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant attracts loads of folks Every and each year, as well as they uncover it irresistible.
Day out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will carry out?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, when you're within the proper devote Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be simple to catch (or shoot) a single.
An inscription around the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' with the complete generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence in this article has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical instances and includes been an important assistance to human survival during periods of distress and critical have to have.'
Chuckle if you'd desire. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.