There's a devote Florida that built a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone could like to do that?
Effectively, to begin with, heroes are challenging to acquire in this commit Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of under five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, last 1982, Wausau bought fed up with being disregarded Together with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single place in Florida wants a Competition. And not a single commit Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am building this up. When you have attended Washington County, you may recognize - and know This is actually the true story.
Wausau, it proved, had some very effective possum politicians from the early '80s. Here i will discuss several points they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing Together with the monument along State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even got The usa Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by way of supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a spot to help keep its once-a-year Enjoyable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other factors, the Pageant attracts many people Each individual and on a yearly basis, and they also obtain it irresistible.
Outing for a several educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive entire body only at nighttime. That's why, Should you be within the suitable put in place Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', hence it can be not hard to entice (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription for your monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in giving 'both of those fur and food items' in the course of the total generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence in this article has more info presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical times and possesses been a crucial support to human survival a great deal more distress and important have to have.'
Laugh If you would like. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.