There is a put in place Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tricky to uncover on this commit Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, house of below five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with currently being ignored from your Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every place in Florida would like a festival. Rather than just one commit Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have in no way attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am building this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you may comprehend - and know Here is the real Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share some things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the setting up with the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a region to carry its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing Possum removal Glen iris a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant draws in 1000s of people today every year, as well as they adore it.
Trip for lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, after you end up inside the right place in Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', as a result it's not so tricky seize (or shoot) 1.
An inscription concerning the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'both of those fur and food stuff' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence below has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and possesses been an important aid to human survival a lot more distress and important need to have.'
Snicker should you'd like. The folks of Wausau will chortle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.