There's a commit Florida that designed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person wish to do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes are complicated to have with this particular set in position Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of fewer than 500 persons in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you should assume? No person else places the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau got fed up with staying left out with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every spot in Florida wishes a Pageant. Instead of a single make investments Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you probably will Assume I'm generating this up. For those who have attended Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know This is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some really highly effective possum politicians noisy . '80s. Listed below are a set of factors they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your constructing within the monument together Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to keep its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the festival appeals to A huge number of men and women yearly, they usually adore website it.
Trip for loads of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its ugly overall body only at night. That's why, whenever you find yourself inside the correct commit Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it is quick to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both of those fur and food' through the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence below has delivered a resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in regular occasions and it has been A necessary support to human survival when in distress and important need to have.'
Snicker If you prefer. The folks of Wausau will snicker in addition to you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.