There's a set in place Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Well, to start out, heroes are really hard to uncover using this area in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would probably be expecting? No one else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau received fed up with currently being left out in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each spot in Florida wishes a Pageant. And never 1 make investments Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have in no way attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am Therefore, building this up. When you've got gone to Washington County, you can realize - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather impressive possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Here i will discuss a few issues they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your constructing Using the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by means of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to hold its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the festival appeals to Many individuals annually, and Additionally they like it.
Day trip for the handful of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum could be the equivalent lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, Should you be within correct location in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is actually not so tricky seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with the monument in the middle of read more Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food items' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has delivered a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and it has been a significant aid to human survival in occasions of distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people today of Wausau will chuckle with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.