There's a dedicate Florida that designed a 12-foot-significant monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual should do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are tricky to return by During this put in Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, household of under five hundred people in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau received fed up with staying ignored of your Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every put in position Florida needs a festival. Instead of a single commit Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got in no way been to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm thus, making this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you'll understand - and know this is the legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some quite impressive possum politicians from the early '80s. Listed below are a set of issues they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your building Along with the monument alongside Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining as a result of supplying the get more info funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a locale to assistance its annual Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the Competition appeals to Lots of individuals every year, and so they adore it.
Outing for plenty of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its hideous entire body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, while you are in the correct devote Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it can be straightforward to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription round the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in giving 'equally fur and meals' throughout the overall hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard times and it has been A vital assistance to human survival when in distress and demanding need.'
Giggle if you want. The folks of Wausau will chortle in conjunction with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.