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

There's a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-large monument through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to accomplish that?
Effectively, very first off, heroes are tough to come by on this area in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, household of fewer than 500 individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'd assume? No one else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again in 1982, Wausau received sick and Sick and tired of becoming overlooked of the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every make investments Florida wants a Pageant. Rather than 1 spot in Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you probably will Consider I am causeing this for being up. If you have long gone to Washington County, you will recognize - and know This is actually the genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty powerful possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed below are a number of issues they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the developing inside the monument together Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They read more even bought The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition draws in Countless people today annually, and so they love it.
Day out for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum may be the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will complete?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, whenever you find yourself inside the correct dedicate Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is not challenging capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription round the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both of those fur and foodstuff' in the complete hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence in this article has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular instances and possesses been A necessary assist to human survival in the course of moments of distress and significant need to have.'
Giggle If you would like. The persons of Wausau will giggle together - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.