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

There is a place in Florida that designed a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to accomplish that?
Nicely, very first off, heroes acquire time and effort to search out with this devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of lower than 500 persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, last 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with currently being neglected in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in Florida needs a Pageant. Rather than one make investments Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have by no means frequented Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm building this up. In case you have attended Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know This can be the true story.
Wausau, it proved, had some really effective possum politicians over the early '80s. Listed below are a pair of issues they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the making from the monument along State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained The us Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a spot to carry its annual Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the Competition attracts a lot of men and women each and every year, and they find it irresistible.
Trip for any handful of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only in the evening. This is why, any time you find yourself In the appropriate put in Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is quick to capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription for that monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both of those fur and food stuff' in the overall centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence in this article has offered a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in typical occasions and possesses been an essential enable to human survival through times of distress and significant need to have.'
Giggle if you love. click here The people of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.