There is a invest Florida that developed a 12-foot-high monument for the duration of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody desire to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are challenging to acquire using this type of put in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of under five hundred people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'd count on? Nobody else places the possum within the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and drained with currently being left out from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every devote Florida needs a Competition. And not a single position in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am earning this up. Should you have attended Washington County, you can comprehend - and know This may be a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a handful of matters they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the setting up from the monument together Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to sector the possum. Congress joined the fun by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to carry its yearly Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other issues, the Pageant appeals to Many individuals every year, and In addition they adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unpleasant human body only in the evening. This is exactly why, For anyone who is inside the suitable commit Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually easy ample to capture (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's part in offering 'both equally fur and meals' in the whole generations. It goes onto say: 'Their presence here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in ordinary instances and includes been A vital assist to human survival when in click here distress and important need.'
Chortle if you prefer. The persons of Wausau will chuckle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.