There is a put in position Florida that created a 12-foot-significant monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are hard to acquire using this set in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the minimum? Nobody else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, final 1982, Wausau bought sick and drained with remaining overlooked Along with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida needs a Competition. Rather than one particular put in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you most likely will think I am earning this up. When you have attended Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know it is a correct story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some quite impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share several matters they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the here 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your making Using the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to aid its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Pageant draws in 1000s of persons Each and every and each and every year, furthermore they uncover it irresistible.
Day out for many educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, if you're inside the appropriate commit Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not hard to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription across the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' throughout the overall generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in ordinary situations and possesses been a vital support to human survival a great deal more distress and demanding need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.