There is a place set up Florida that created a 12-foot-superior monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone could love to do that?
Properly, to start with off, heroes are challenging to search out with this particular place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of a lot less than 500 people during Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you would probably assume? No person else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau acquired Unwell and Weary of currently being omitted within the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Just about every set set up Florida wants a Competition. Instead of one particular dedicate Florida incorporates a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have by no means been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I'm So, earning this up. When you've got frequented Washington County, you are going to realize - and know This may be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some really powerful possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Here's a pair of factors they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly to start with Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up on the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired the United States Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by means of offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to help keep its annual Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum more info auction, amongst other items, the Pageant attracts plenty of individuals annually, and they also find it irresistible.
Time out for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly human body only at night. That is why, when you're during the suitable set set up Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it's uncomplicated plenty of capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription concerning the monument through Wausau cites the possum's job in giving 'equally fur and meals' throughout the complete hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence in this article has provided a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard situations and contains been an essential aid to human survival when in distress and demanding want.'
Laugh if you're keen on. The people of Wausau will snicker along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.