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

There is a position in Florida that created a 12-foot-large monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual may like to do that?
Very well, very first off, heroes are difficult to search out on this put set up Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, property of fewer than five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau got fed up with staying overlooked from your Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each place in position Florida needs a Competition. Instead of 1 spend Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm causeing this for being up. If you have gone to Washington County, you may realize - and know this is the correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite strong possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a pair of points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the constructing inside the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The us Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable as a result of supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to maintain its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other matters, the Competition attracts lots of men and women Just about every and website yearly, and so they find it irresistible.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum will be the identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unattractive body only at nighttime. That's why, once you find yourself Within the right position in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it's uncomplicated ample to capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription throughout the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'equally fur and food' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has supplied a resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual times and it's been a major aid to human survival in situations of distress and important want.'
Snicker if you love. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.