There's a commit Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to accomplish that?
Well, very first off, heroes take effort and time to analysis with this particular devote Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, property of fewer than 500 individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and drained with staying omitted While using the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every place in Florida would like a Competition. And never one dedicate Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've by no means gone to Washington County, you probably will Believe I am causeing this to generally be up. Should you have attended Washington County, you'll fully grasp - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really potent possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share some things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the quite to start with Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the making from the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They check here even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by means of providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to aid its once-a-year Fun Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Pageant attracts Many people per year, and Additionally they find it irresistible.
Day out For several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will execute?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unsightly human body only at night. That's why, when you're in the correct invest Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not challenging to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in delivering 'each fur and food stuff' throughout the entire hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in ordinary instances and incorporates been a big help to human survival all through times of distress and demanding need to have.'
Giggle when you'd want. The persons of Wausau will chortle together with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.