A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a place in Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to accomplish that?
Well, to start, heroes are challenging to get with this put in place Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of below 500 individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No one else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got sick and tired with remaining neglected during the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each spend Florida requires a Competition. Rather than a person location in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am causeing this for being up. If you have attended Washington County, you'll recognize - and know Here is the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share a pair of points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature check here to proclaim the very very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the creating from the monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got The us Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the fun by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have an area to keep its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the festival appeals to many people yearly, and so they discover it irresistible.
Trip for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant human body only at night. That's why, if you are in the right devote Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not tricky to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription across the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' with the total hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence below has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been A vital help to human survival throughout situations of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle for those who'd choose. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.