There's a place in Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may like to do that?
Nicely, to get started with, heroes are difficult to come back by inside of this devote Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, property of lower than 500 persons through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else places the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, very last 1982, Wausau got sick and drained with being overlooked within the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every place in position Florida requires a Competition. Rather than one particular devote Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have in no way attended Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am As a result, creating this up. When you have absent to Washington County, you'll fully grasp - and know this can be a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really potent possum politicians through the early '80s. Here i will discuss a number of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your building Together with the monument alongside State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even received The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to maintain its once-a-year Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals annually, and Additionally they like it.
Day trip for a lot of educating of Northerners below. The website South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are within the appropriate make investments Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not tricky to capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription within the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food stuff' throughout the complete centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical moments and has been an important help to human survival considerably more distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.