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

There is a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-large monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual would like to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start, heroes acquire effort and time to exploration using this type of location in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred individuals in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll count on? Nobody else places the possum about the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with being omitted from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every put in Florida desires a Competition. Rather than one particular spend Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am As a result, producing this up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you are going to have an understanding of - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really potent possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share a couple of issues they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your constructing in the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined more info the enjoyment via giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to guidance its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant draws in a lot of men and women Every and each year, as well as they adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, if you're in the ideal commit Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not complicated to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription over the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's part in giving 'equally fur and food' in the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence in this article has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular times and possesses been an important help to human survival throughout situations of distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh in case you'd prefer. The men and women of Wausau will snicker alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.