There's a put set up Florida that constructed a 12-foot-high monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone desire to do that?
Effectively, 1st off, heroes acquire effort and time to study on this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of underneath 500 people throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau received sick and tired of staying overlooked Along with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each individual dedicate Florida needs a festival. And not a single commit Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you probably will Feel I'm making this up. In case you have been to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some pretty potent possum politicians from the early '80s. Listed here are a pair of items they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your creating of the monument together Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have an area to help keep its yearly Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Competition attracts Many individuals annually, and they like it.
Outing For lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six more info is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its ugly system only during the night. This is why, Should you be in the right commit Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', thus it is very simple sufficient to catch (or shoot) a person.
An inscription with the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's part in offering 'each fur and meals' through the entire hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has presented a source of nutritious and flavorful food in usual occasions and possesses been a big help to human survival way more distress and demanding will need.'
Snicker if you like. The men and women of Wausau will giggle as well as you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.