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

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

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There is a spot in Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone ought to do that?
Properly, to start out, heroes are tricky for getting using this devote Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, residence of a lot less than five hundred folks in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? Nobody else places the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with remaining overlooked on the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each set set up Florida requirements a Pageant. Rather than one place in position Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got by no means absent to Washington County, you probably will Consider I am causeing this to become up. Should you have attended Washington County, you'll understand - and know It's a legitimate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's more info some things they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the making in the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to aid its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the Competition draws in A large number of folks yearly, and they also find it irresistible.
Time out For lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is definitely the identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, if you find yourself inside the right commit Florida, you may hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not difficult to catch (or shoot) one.
An inscription throughout the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both equally fur and food' in the full hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary situations and possesses been an important assist to human survival throughout instances of distress and critical need.'
Giggle if you love. The people of Wausau will chuckle together with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.