There's a dedicate Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one ought to do that?
Well, to get started with, heroes are tough to discover within just this invest Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, dwelling of lower than 500 folks for the duration 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 which has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and tired of currently being ignored Using the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida needs a Pageant. And not one put in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you probably will think I'm earning this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you can expect to realize - and know It is just a real story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite highly effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Here's a set of points they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the building of your monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got the United States Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a locale to assistance its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Competition appeals to A large number of men and women Every and each year, in addition they adore it.
Day trip for some educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, when you are inside the appropriate commit Florida, you could hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be not tough to catch (or shoot) a person.
An inscription around the monument during Wausau cites the possum's part in furnishing 'each fur and foods' in the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in read more regular times and possesses been a crucial guide to human survival a lot more distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you're keen on. The individuals of Wausau will chortle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.