There's a devote Florida that built a 12-foot-substantial monument for the duration of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tough to find on this make investments Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau got Unwell and tired with becoming overlooked inside the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single spend Florida requires a festival. Instead of one particular put in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I'm causeing this to generally be up. In case you have been to Washington County, you are going to have an understanding of - and know This can be the true Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Here's certain things they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the building of the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to support its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to Many people each year, and In addition they like it.
Day trip for loads of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive body only during the night. This is exactly why, once you find yourself in the correct spot in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually straightforward to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription on the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'both fur and foods' through the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has provided a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual moments and it's been An important help to human survival when in distress and significant need to have.'
Laugh if you want. The people today of Wausau will chuckle coupled with you here - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.