There's a commit Florida that designed a 12-foot-superior monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person desire to do that?
Nicely, initial off, heroes get time and effort to search out Within this spend Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, house of beneath 500 individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? No one else puts the possum in excess of a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau received tired of remaining omitted Along with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every devote Florida wishes a Competition. And not a single dedicate Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am causeing this being up. Should you have visited Washington County, you may recognize - and know It's a correct story.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some fairly impressive possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here are certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the constructing during the monument alongside State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained The us Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to hold its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the festival appeals to heaps of men and women each year, plus they find it irresistible.
Time out for loads of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night. That's why, When you are throughout the ideal place set up Florida, you could hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', hence it truly is effortless to lure (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for the monument during Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'the two fur and foodstuff' through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has supplied a source of nutritious and here flavorful meals in ordinary instances and it has been an essential help to human survival considerably more distress and important require.'
Chuckle In order for you. The men and women of Wausau will giggle along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.