There's a put in place Florida that built a 12-foot-large monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone wish to perform that?
Well, to start with, heroes are challenging to come back by on this spot in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of below five hundred persons in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else places the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and drained with staying omitted with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each individual location in Florida demands a festival. And not one make investments Florida has a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am producing this up. When you have attended Washington County, you can comprehend - and know This may be a genuine story.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some really highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share a few factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the making inside the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by furnishing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to keep its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant draws in Lots of people every year, plus they like website it.
Day out For most educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its hideous entire body only at night. This is exactly why, if you end up In the correct set in position Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not tricky to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for that monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'equally fur and food stuff' all through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in ordinary situations and incorporates been A vital assist to human survival when in distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh if you prefer. The people of Wausau will chuckle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.