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

There is a set in position Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-superior monument during city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual need to do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are tricky for getting with this put in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of much less than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No one else places the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau got Unwell and Uninterested in being omitted With all the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every spend Florida desires a Pageant. And never a single position in Florida provides a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not gone to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I am causeing this being up. Should you have been to Washington County, you will understand - and know This can be the true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some very powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two matters they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the setting up of your monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to aid its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the festival appeals to plenty of individuals Just about every and annually, additionally they locate it irresistible.
Time out For a lot of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is get more info a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant system only during the night. That is why, If you're Within the correct put set up Florida, you could hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's very simple plenty of capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for your monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'each fur and foods' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food in regular times and it has been a crucial aid to human survival in instances of distress and significant require.'
Chortle if you like. The persons of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.