A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a set set up Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tough to have with this particular set in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would hope? No one else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with remaining overlooked with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every position in Florida wants a Pageant. And never 1 invest Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have in no way been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am Consequently, creating this up. When you have long gone to Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know It's really a real story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here's a couple of issues they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing Using the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a region to maintain its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Competition appeals to Lots of people each and every year, and so that they adore it.
Time out For a lot of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum could be the equivalent lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, Should you be within appropriate area in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', as a result it's not so hard seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription website with the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' through the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their presence here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard instances and it's got been a substantial help to human survival throughout situations of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle if you'd choose. The people of Wausau will giggle together with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.