There's a location in Florida that developed a twelve-foot-significant monument during city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person may well like to do that?
Very well, to start out, heroes are tough to come by In this particular area in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of under five hundred individuals for the duration of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No one else places the possum around the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau received sick and worn out with getting left out from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every put in Florida needs a Competition. Instead of a single position in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am making this up. When you've got been to Washington County, you will realize - and know It is just a real story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some really highly effective possum politicians through the early '80s. Listed here are two issues they achieved:


They persuaded website the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing with the monument together State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even obtained America Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a place to guidance its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant attracts tons of folks Every single and yearly, and In addition they like it.
Time out for a several educating of Northerners here. The South's possum will be the similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant overall body only at night. That is why, when you are In the ideal put in place Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is not hard to lure (or shoot) just one.
An inscription throughout the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'both of those fur and foods' throughout the total centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in normal occasions and possesses been a crucial support to human survival a great deal more distress and important have to have.'
Laugh if you like. The folks of Wausau will giggle alongside - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.