A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a location in Florida that built a 12-foot-higher monument all through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual must do that?
Well, to start with, heroes get effort and time to exploration using this type of put in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of beneath 500 persons all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'd expect? Nobody else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and exhausted with currently being left out with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida would like a Pageant. And not one invest Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've never gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I'm causeing this for being up. Should you have attended Washington County, you will recognize - and know This may be a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here are some things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your creating in the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by means of delivering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a location to maintain its once-a-year Enjoyment Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the Competition attracts Lots of people each and annually, and they like it.
Trip For a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will carry out?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unsightly physique website only during the night. That's why, when you are from the ideal area in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It is not challenging to catch (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's function in providing 'each fur and food' all through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful food in standard times and has been An important support to human survival when in distress and significant require.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people today of Wausau will laugh along - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.