There's a set in place Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument during city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone could love to do that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes are tough to search out inside of this devote Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, household of fewer than five hundred people in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No one else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau got sick and fatigued with becoming disregarded Along with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida requirements a Competition. Instead of one area in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm making this up. Should you have long gone to Washington County, you may understand - and know This may be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some really highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss two points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the making of your monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by furnishing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a place to carry its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Competition draws in tons of people Every single and on a yearly basis, and in order that they discover it irresistible.
Outing For numerous educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant physique only in the evening. This is why, if you find yourself within the ideal devote Florida, you may hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by here puppies, the possum 'freezes', therefore it can be not so difficult seize (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with regards to the monument during Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'the two fur and meals' over the total centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence in this article has supplied a resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary periods and it's been A vital support to human survival in occasions of distress and significant want.'
Chortle if you want. The people today of Wausau will chuckle with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.