There's a place set up Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody choose to do that?
Very well, initial off, heroes are difficult to exploration using this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of much less than five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else places the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired tired of becoming omitted Together with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each invest Florida demands a Competition. Rather than one particular devote Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am generating this up. In case you have visited Washington County, you can comprehend - and know that is a real Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, had some rather highly effective possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed below are a set of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the setting up While using the monument together Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to help keep its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Featuring more info a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals annually, plus they adore it.
Day trip for loads of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant system only at night. That's why, if you are inside correct spot in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be effortless to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription with regards to the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's part in giving 'both fur and foods' from the generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence here has offered a supply of nutritious and flavorful food items in regular instances and has been an essential assistance to human survival all through situations of distress and important will need.'
Giggle for those who'd desire. The persons of Wausau will chuckle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.