There's a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-superior monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start out, heroes consider time and effort to investigation With this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, house of a lot less than 500 individuals through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, last 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and fatigued with remaining disregarded Along with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every set set up Florida requires a festival. Instead of a person make investments Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am Consequently, producing this up. Should you have absent to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know This may be a true Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's several matters they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your making in the monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to carry its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant draws in Many individuals annually, they read more usually adore it.
Day out for lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unpleasant system only during the night. This is exactly why, when you are within the ideal commit Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be not hard to entice (or shoot) just one.
An inscription within the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's function in delivering 'both of those fur and foods' over the full generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal situations and possesses been an important assist to human survival through moments of distress and critical need to have.'
Chuckle if you're keen on. The folks of Wausau will snicker alongside - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.