There's a position in Florida that developed a twelve-foot-high monument throughout city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual really need to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are really hard to obtain inside of this devote Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland- Wausau, house of underneath 500 persons in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No one else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and weary with being disregarded from your Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every single set set up Florida wants a Competition. Rather than one particular put in Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't gone to Washington County, you probably will Consider I am making this up. In case you have gone to Washington County, you'll realize - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some fairly strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Here's a couple of things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the building from the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.

They even got The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a region to carry its once-a-year Enjoyable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other factors, the Competition draws in Countless individuals yearly, and in order that they love it.
Time out to get a couple educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It is a read more smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant body only at night. That's why, when you end up in the appropriate location in Florida, you can hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is uncomplicated ample capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription concerning the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's function in providing 'each fur and food' all through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in normal times and is made up of been A necessary help to human survival all through moments of distress and important need to have.'
Giggle if you like. The folks of Wausau will laugh as well as you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.