A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum

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There is a place in Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody ought to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are difficult to search out within this set set up Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, home of fewer than 500 people all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll assume? Nobody else puts the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received fed up with staying neglected within the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida would like a Competition. Instead of 1 devote Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am creating this up. In case you have been to Washington County, you are going to have an understanding of - and know this can be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a set of factors they attained:


They here persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making on the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a locale to maintain its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant attracts a lot of men and women each year, and Additionally they like it.
Outing For a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum could be the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, while you are throughout the right location in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it really is not so tricky to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription to the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foods' in the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their presence in this article has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular occasions and it's been an important assist to human survival much more distress and important will need.'
Laugh if you like. The persons of Wausau will giggle along with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.