A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

There is a devote Florida that crafted a 12-foot-higher monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone desire to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tough to find With this position in Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, home of much less than five hundred people in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to say the minimum? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and tired with getting disregarded with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida needs a festival. Instead of just one put in position Florida incorporates a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have by no means attended Washington County, you most likely will think I'm Hence, earning this up. If you have visited Washington County, you'll recognize - and know this is a real Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some rather highly effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing in the monument along Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the exciting by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau can have a location to assist its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition draws in Countless people today on a yearly basis, they usually like it.
Outing for just a number of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, For anyone who is inside of appropriate area in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is really basic enough to lure (or shoot) a person.
An inscription in regards to the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'equally fur and food stuff' with Possum Proofing Melbourne the whole centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in typical instances and contains been a significant enable to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Snicker In order for you. The people of Wausau will giggle coupled with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.