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

There is a place in Florida that built a twelve-foot-superior monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual need to do that?
Well, initial off, heroes are tricky to acquire inside this set in position Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, property of fewer than 500 individuals in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'd anticipate? Nobody else puts the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and exhausted with staying ignored With all the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every dedicate Florida needs a Competition. And never one particular position in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've by no means gone to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm creating this up. When you have been to Washington County, you can realize - and know This may be a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very strong possum politicians through the early '80s. Listed here are some things they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. click here That led for the making With all the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even received The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to aid its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in Many people today Each individual and each year, and Additionally they like it.
Day out for any several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum may be the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, When you are within right put set up Florida, you may hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It really is uncomplicated plenty of to trap (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription about the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'both equally fur and food stuff' from the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence right here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard moments and has been a significant help to human survival in periods of distress and critical need.'
Giggle if you want. The people of Wausau will giggle with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.