A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a devote Florida that developed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual may love to do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes take time and effort to investigate Within this area in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of much less than five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to state the least? Nobody else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau got Weary of being omitted within the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every put set up Florida needs a Pageant. And not 1 devote Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I am causeing this to get up. In case you have been to Washington County, you can expect to have an understanding of - and know This can be the true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some very potent possum politicians from the early '80s. Here i will discuss a set of things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the quite initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the developing while in the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a spot to help keep its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Competition appeals to Lots of people on a yearly basis, and Additionally they discover it irresistible.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will complete?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only in the evening. This is why, if you're within the appropriate dedicate Florida, you may hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it really is quick to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food items' with the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence in this article has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical occasions and it has been an essential support to human survival when in distress and critical need to Possum Catcher Melbourne have.'
Laugh If you prefer. The persons of Wausau will chuckle in conjunction with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.