There is a devote Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one could love to do that?
Nicely, to get started with, heroes are hard to come by inside this devote Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland- Wausau, residence of under five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would probably assume? No person else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with becoming neglected Together with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every dedicate Florida demands a Competition. And not 1 place in position Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have never long gone to Washington County, you probably will Assume I'm building this up. When you have visited Washington County, you will understand - and know this is a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly powerful possum politicians through the early '80s. Here are several matters they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the developing While using the monument alongside State Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to hold its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other items, the Pageant draws in Many individuals each get more info year, plus they adore it.
Day out for lots of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, when you end up from the suitable dedicate Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not complicated to entice (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription round the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food' from the overall generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal times and incorporates been a substantial assist to human survival for the duration of periods of distress and important need to have.'
Laugh for those who'd choose. The people of Wausau will giggle together with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.