There is a dedicate Florida that crafted a 12-foot-significant monument all through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody should do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are complicated to receive on this set in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household 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 understandably? No one else places the possum using a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, last 1982, Wausau received Unwell and fatigued with getting disregarded Along with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single make investments Florida wishes a Pageant. And never 1 set in place Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm Consequently, making this up. Should you have absent to Washington County, you may understand - and know that is a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing in the monument together State Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a site to carry its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to thousands of individuals Just about every and annually, and so they adore check here it.
Day out for plenty of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its ugly entire body only during the night time. That's why, any time you end up inside right place in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is uncomplicated adequate capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'both fur and foods' through the hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and possesses been an important support to human survival a lot more distress and important need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people of Wausau will giggle together with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.