There is a spend Florida that crafted a 12-foot-substantial monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one really need to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are difficult to discover within this place in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of a lot less than 500 persons in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would hope? No person else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and Sick and tired of remaining neglected through the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each area in Florida needs a Competition. And not a single area in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got hardly ever attended Washington County, you probably will think I am creating this up. When you have been to Washington County, you may recognize - and know This may be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some rather potent possum politicians in early '80s. Here's certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the making from your monument alongside Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even got America Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to keep its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the festival attracts many people each year, moreover they adore it.
Day out for a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you end up within the right location in Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', as a result it really is not so challenging to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription for that monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and food items' in the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in ordinary instances and it's been A website necessary support to human survival when in distress and important need.'
Chuckle If you would like. The folks of Wausau will giggle in addition to you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.