There's a put in Florida that crafted a 12-foot-high monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual really need to do that?
Nicely, to start out, heroes are tricky to get inside of this put set up Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, property of underneath 500 people in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No person else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained Fed up with becoming omitted from the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every invest Florida would like a Pageant. Instead of one place in Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Consider I am producing this up. In case you have been to Washington County, you can comprehend - and know This may be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some really potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are a set of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly initially Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the creating with the monument together State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by delivering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a region to get more info carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other factors, the Pageant attracts Many persons each and every year, and In addition they adore it.
Day trip For numerous educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant system only at night. This is why, while you are during the suitable devote Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', consequently it is actually uncomplicated to lure (or shoot) just one.
An inscription with the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's function in supplying 'the two fur and food' in the full centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in ordinary moments and it's got been an essential assistance to human survival in periods of distress and important require.'
Chuckle if you like. The men and women of Wausau will giggle together with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.