There's a area in Florida that created a 12-foot-substantial monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone really need to do that?
Perfectly, to get started on, heroes are tough to uncover During this put in position Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, home of a lot less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to convey the the very least? No one else places the possum by using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau bought fed up with currently being neglected with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida needs a Competition. And not a single place set up Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never long gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am So, producing this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know this is the correct Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really strong possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are some things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing With all the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by furnishing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a spot to carry its once-a-year Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Pageant draws in 1000s of folks on a yearly basis, and in order that they like it.
Day out for a great deal of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you here simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its ugly entire body only during the night. This is exactly why, when you find yourself inside the appropriate set in position Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really not so difficult to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription with the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'both fur and food' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has offered a resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual occasions and possesses been an important help to human survival a lot more distress and important require.'
Chuckle if you like. The men and women of Wausau will chortle together - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.