There's a devote Florida that created a twelve-foot-large monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to accomplish that?
Very well, to start, heroes are complicated to investigate with this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of less than 500 persons in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll anticipate? No one else places the possum about the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with remaining overlooked While using the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida requires a festival. Instead of one particular area in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm causeing this being up. When you've got been to Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know This can be the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty strong possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are some things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the developing from the monument along Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got the United States Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to assistance its annual Fun Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the festival appeals to a lot of men and women yearly, and in order that they obtain it irresistible.
Outing For a lot of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its here unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, if you are Within the correct place in place Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It can be not tough to trap (or shoot) one.
An inscription across the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'each fur and foods' through the complete generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in ordinary situations and incorporates been a vital aid to human survival throughout occasions of distress and important need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people of Wausau will giggle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.