There's a put set up Florida that crafted a 12-foot-higher monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may well like to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are difficult to search out on this commit Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of less than 500 folks in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you would be expecting? Nobody else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau received Unwell and worn out with getting disregarded from the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in position Florida desires a Competition. And not one spend Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have under no circumstances been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am earning this up. When you have attended Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know it is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some fairly strong possum politicians from the early '80s. Here i will discuss certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the check here Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing in the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even bought America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a area to support its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the Competition draws in tons of individuals Every single and each and every year, and so they like it.
Trip For most educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, In case you are within correct place in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it really is uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription about the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in delivering 'both fur and foods' throughout the complete hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in usual times and possesses been a crucial support to human survival considerably more distress and demanding need.'
Snicker if you like. The folks of Wausau will snicker with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.