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

There is a put in place Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to do that?
Well, to start, heroes are tricky to obtain on this spend Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property 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 not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else places the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau got Uninterested in being overlooked through the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual devote Florida needs a Competition. And never one position in Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am thus, generating this up. If you have gone to Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know It is just a genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty powerful possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are two issues they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing in the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the fun through offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to carry its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to Many people annually, and In addition they adore it.
Time out For lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with read more opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. That is why, when you're in the ideal set in place Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it is straightforward sufficient to catch (or shoot) a single.
An inscription to the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both of those fur and food stuff' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard situations and possesses been an essential assist to human survival when in distress and critical need.'
Chortle if you love. The people of Wausau will chuckle along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.