There's a invest Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody need to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tricky to return by within just this devote Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, property of fewer than 500 people in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'd assume? No one else places the possum about the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with getting ignored from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single place in Florida desires a Competition. And not a single invest Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have by no means been to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I'm thus, making this up. When you've got absent to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know This may be a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very effective possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Listed here are two or three factors they achieved:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the constructing Using the monument alongside Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to hold its once-a-year Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Pageant draws in Many of us each and every year, and so that they find it irresistible.
Time out For lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is definitely the similar lowly animal you contact get more info opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unpleasant body only during the night. That is why, if you are Within the ideal set in place Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really basic plenty of seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with regards to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'both equally fur and food' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and it has been an essential help to human survival a lot more distress and important need to have.'
Snicker if you love. The persons of Wausau will laugh together - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.