An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a make investments Florida that designed a twelve-foot-substantial monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone wish to do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes are challenging to obtain with this particular place set up Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than five hundred individuals in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you would probably count on? No person else places the possum about the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with currently being ignored of the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in Florida wishes a Pageant. Instead of a person make investments Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances been to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am generating this up. When you have absent to Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some really potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are a pair of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the building during the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau check here might need a region to maintain its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals each year, and In addition they like it.
Trip for your couple of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, When you are throughout the suitable commit Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It is basic sufficient to trap (or shoot) just one.
An inscription concerning the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food items' in the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual periods and possesses been a crucial assist to human survival far more distress and important want.'
Laugh if you like. The people of Wausau will giggle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.