There's a place set up Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the course of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone desire to perform that?
Perfectly, to start, heroes are tricky for getting using this set in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred persons in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would anticipate? No one else puts the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with getting neglected in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every put in Florida wants a festival. And never a person set in position Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've never ever been to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm Therefore, creating this up. Should you have long gone to Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know this is a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some really impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the setting up through the monument alongside Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to hold its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other items, the Pageant attracts loads of men and women each and every year, and in order that they love it.
Outing For numerous educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum may be the similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and more info demonstrates its unappealing entire body only in the evening. That's why, if you are inside correct set in place Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', consequently it is not so tricky seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription for that monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary situations and it's got been a substantial help to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Chortle If you need. The persons of Wausau will laugh as well as you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.