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

There's a place set up Florida that designed a twelve-foot-significant monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes are difficult to receive on this invest Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, home of fewer than 500 folks all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau obtained Fed up with getting disregarded while in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each set in position Florida needs a festival. Instead of a person dedicate Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am generating this up. When you have attended Washington County, you may understand - and know It's really a real story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here are a pair of issues they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty to start with Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the creating from the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to assist its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other matters, the Competition draws in thousands of men and women per year, furthermore they uncover it irresistible.
Time out for a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous system only during the night. That is why, when you're in the right commit Florida, you could hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it is not complicated 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 foods' more info with the complete hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary situations and possesses been a vital assistance to human survival during periods of distress and important want.'
Snicker should you'd like. The folks of Wausau will chortle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.