There is a devote Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone have to do that?
Effectively, initially off, heroes are hard for getting on this place in place Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, house of beneath 500 people in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum more than a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Weary of becoming disregarded in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida requirements a Pageant. Rather than a person set in position Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I am causeing this for being up. For those who have been to Washington County, you can understand - and know it is a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's a pair of issues they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the setting up in the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by supplying the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a site to assistance its once-a-year Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other issues, the Competition draws in loads of men and women Every single and annually, plus they adore it.
Day out for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its hideous human body only during the night time. That's why, If you're during the appropriate place in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is effortless capture (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription to the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'each fur and foodstuff' in the generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has presented a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal occasions and incorporates been a major help to human check here survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh If you'd like. The people of Wausau will giggle in conjunction with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.