There is a place in place Florida that built a twelve-foot-large monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone could possibly like to do that?
Effectively, first off, heroes are tough to uncover on this set in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of below five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would expect? No person else places the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau bought Ill and drained with being omitted inside the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida requires a Competition. Instead of one put set up Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am So, generating this up. In case you have visited Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know this can be a accurate story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some very powerful possum politicians while in the early '80s. Listed below are a set of matters they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the quite to start with Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing within the monument together State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by way of providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a area to maintain its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the festival appeals to a lot of men and women Each and every and each year, and they find it irresistible.
Day out For most educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters check here when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. That is why, when you are in the right location in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it really is not so difficult to lure (or shoot) 1.
An inscription concerning the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' throughout the generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in regular occasions and it's been an essential support to human survival considerably more distress and demanding have to have.'
Chuckle If you'd like. The people of Wausau will giggle with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.