There is a devote Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-substantial monument all through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone could love to do that?
Well, to begin with, heroes are tough to have on this area in Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, home of underneath 500 individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with remaining overlooked with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual put in Florida wants a Pageant. Rather than one particular location in Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I'm making this up. When you have absent to Washington County, you may comprehend - and know This is a true story.
Wausau, it wound up, had some pretty impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two issues they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the creating in the monument together Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even received the United States Congress more info in marketing the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by means of providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to hold its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Competition appeals to loads of folks Each and every and yearly, plus they find it irresistible.
Day trip for just a handful of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unattractive system only at nighttime. This is why, when you're within the suitable commit Florida, you could hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It is really basic ample seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription for your monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in delivering 'the two fur and meals' over the entire centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence listed here has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in typical moments and it has been a substantial assistance to human survival throughout times of distress and significant require.'
Chortle if you're keen on. The persons of Wausau will chortle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.