There is a spot in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-large monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one may like to do that?
Very well, to get started with, heroes choose effort and time to come by on this set set up Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of under 500 persons in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to convey the least? No person else puts the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau got Ill and Bored with becoming omitted with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every dedicate Florida desires a festival. And never a single commit Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't long gone to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm causeing this to get up. For those who have attended Washington County, you may fully grasp - and know It is just a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some really powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Here's two things they completed:


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

They even obtained the United States Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the fun by means of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've an area to maintain its yearly Entertaining Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the Pageant attracts a lot of men and women Just about every and yearly, plus they like it.
Day out For several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unappealing body only at nighttime. That is why, If you're In the ideal commit Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is actually simple adequate to catch (or shoot) just one.
An inscription over the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's job in providing 'both equally fur and foodstuff' with the overall hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in ordinary times and has been an essential help to human survival when in distress and critical will need.'
Giggle if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.