There is a set in place Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are complicated to acquire on this place in place Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, residence of less than 500 persons in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau got Weary of being ignored on the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida wishes a festival. And not a person spot in Florida encompasses a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm producing this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you will comprehend - and know This may be a real Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some quite potent possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a pair of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up inside the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even website got The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to help its annual Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the festival appeals to Countless persons every year, in addition they like it.
Outing For most educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, Should you be inside the correct place in place Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', as a result it really is not so tough to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'both fur and foodstuff' all through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in normal instances and it's been A vital aid to human survival in periods of distress and demanding need to have.'
Chortle if you like. The persons of Wausau will chortle with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.