There is a dedicate Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to perform that?
Effectively, to get started on, heroes consider time and effort to investigation During this area in Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, household of fewer than 500 folks in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No one else places the possum in excess of a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau got Ill and Uninterested in becoming left out from the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every single place in Florida needs a Pageant. Instead of one spend Florida incorporates a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never ever been to Washington County, you probably will think I am Consequently, generating this up. In case you have attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know This may be a correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some rather powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a click here few issues they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the constructing Along with the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a place to help keep its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Pageant attracts Lots of individuals annually, and Additionally they like it.
Time out for any couple educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unsightly body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, if you are inside of ideal put in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it really is not hard to lure (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription concerning the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's job in furnishing 'each fur and food stuff' throughout the overall generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard moments and has been a vital help to human survival considerably more distress and significant require.'
Snicker if you love. The persons of Wausau will laugh together - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.