There is a commit Florida that crafted a 12-foot-substantial monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody wish to perform that?
Well, 1st off, heroes are difficult to receive using this type of place in place Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 people for the duration of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum above a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and worn out with being overlooked in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every invest Florida demands a Pageant. And not one place in Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never long gone to Washington County, you probably will think I'm causeing this to become up. For those who have been to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know this is the accurate story.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some really potent possum politicians inside the early '80s. Here are a set of factors they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty to start with Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your constructing within the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received The usa Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the fun by way of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to assistance its annual Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Competition draws in loads of men and women on a yearly basis, and so that they like it.
Day trip For most educating of Northerners below. The South's possum could be the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, if you find yourself Within the ideal put in position Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', consequently it is actually not so challenging capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription for your monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both equally fur and Possum Proofing Melbourne food stuff' throughout the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence in this article has delivered a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in normal situations and has been an important help to human survival in moments of distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The persons of Wausau will laugh with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.