There's a put in position Florida that created a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone could possibly love to do that?
Perfectly, to start with, heroes are challenging to receive using this make investments Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of fewer than 500 persons during Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to convey the minimum? No person else puts the possum about a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with being left out with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each dedicate Florida wants a festival. Instead of one location in Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm causeing this for being up. For those who have visited Washington County, you can have an understanding of - and know This is actually the true Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some quite highly effective possum politicians within the early '80s. Here's two items they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That more info led to the setting up Together with the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The us Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a spot to hold its yearly Fun Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other things, the Competition attracts A huge number of people today Each and every and each and every year, and so they like it.
Day out for the handful of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will carry out?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its ugly overall body only during the night time. That's why, when you find yourself In the suitable set in place Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is not so tough seize (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's role in furnishing 'the two fur and food stuff' during the whole hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their presence in this article has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in regular periods and incorporates been a major assist to human survival far more distress and critical require.'
Giggle If you would like. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.