A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a put set up Florida that constructed a 12-foot-higher monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual have to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are hard to study inside of this position in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, final 1982, Wausau bought Ill and Uninterested in getting ignored with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual devote Florida would like a festival. Rather than just one position in Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never gone to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am Consequently, producing this up. When you have attended Washington County, you are going to have an understanding of - and know this is a correct story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some rather powerful possum politicians from the early '80s. Here's a few issues they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing Using the monument together Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau can have a area to maintain its yearly Exciting Working day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the festival attracts Countless people each year, and they also obtain it irresistible.
Day trip for a few educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum would be the equivalent lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unpleasant system only at nighttime. This is exactly why, while you are within appropriate devote Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', hence it truly is straightforward to entice (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'each fur and food' in the entire generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard instances and possesses been A vital assist to human check here survival in periods of distress and critical need to have.'
Snicker if you want. The folks of Wausau will laugh together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.