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

There's a set in place Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tough for getting with this put in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of under 500 folks in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'd probably expect? No one else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with currently being ignored through the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every location in Florida wants a Competition. And never a single commit Florida encompasses a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've hardly ever been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am thus, generating this up. Should you have long gone to Washington County, you may understand - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Here's two matters they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the creating from the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by way of providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to carry its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other matters, the Competition draws in many people every year, moreover they locate it irresistible.
Time out for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous system only during the night. That is why, If you're in the right location in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually straightforward to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription more info around the monument through Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'equally fur and food stuff' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical instances and possesses been an important assist to human survival considerably more distress and critical will need.'
Laugh if you love. The people of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.