An area in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

An area in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

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There's a location in Florida that designed a 12-foot-superior monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to accomplish that?
Very well, to get started on, heroes are tricky to discover In this particular commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of under five hundred people all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No one else places the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with remaining left out with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every place in Florida wishes a festival. Rather than a single commit Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've by no means frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am making this up. In case you have frequented Washington County, you are going to fully grasp - and know This is actually the real Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some rather powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss a pair of things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making While using the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

here They even got America Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable via providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to keep its annual Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other items, the Competition attracts Many of us each and every year, and In addition they adore it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unpleasant entire body only at nighttime. This is why, when you're inside the right place in place Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not so difficult to lure (or shoot) 1.
An inscription to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal times and possesses been a major assistance to human survival throughout times of distress and important need.'
Chortle if you like. The persons of Wausau will snicker alongside - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.