There's a set in place Florida that constructed a 12-foot-superior monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone have to do that?
Well, to start with, heroes consider time and effort to investigate with this place in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of lower than five hundred persons in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau obtained Fed up with getting disregarded during the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida wants a Competition. Instead of one particular commit Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never absent to Washington County, you probably will Believe I am developing this up. When you have attended Washington County, you may fully grasp - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some rather powerful possum politicians while in the early '80s. Listed here are certain things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led click here on the constructing With all the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a locale to hold its once-a-year Exciting Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the festival attracts A lot of people annually, in addition they adore it.
Trip for just a few educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its hideous physique only in the evening. That's why, In case you are inside the proper make investments Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be easy sufficient to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription regarding the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'equally fur and foods' in the complete generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has supplied a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular instances and possesses been A vital support to human survival a great deal more distress and critical need.'
Chuckle If you would like. The people of Wausau will laugh along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.