There is a position in Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone desire to do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are really hard to seek out on this make investments Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, house of below five hundred individuals throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No one else puts the possum more than a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau got fed up with remaining left out from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single position in Florida needs a Pageant. And not 1 invest Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've by no means attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am developing this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you may understand - and know this can be a legitimate story.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are some things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing in the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a locale to carry its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Competition draws in 1000s of men and women every year, and In addition they like it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its hideous system only at night. That's why, after you end up inside of ideal put in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', as a result it's not so challenging capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription regarding the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food items' throughout the hundreds of years. It check here goes on to say: 'Their existence below has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary situations and has been a very important aid to human survival when in distress and critical will need.'
Laugh If you would like. The persons of Wausau will laugh with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.