There is a devote Florida that created a twelve-foot-high monument all through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may possibly love to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes choose time and effort to locate in this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of below five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No person else places the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau acquired Unwell and exhausted with currently being omitted from the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida demands a festival. And not a single dedicate Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am causeing this to become up. When you've got visited Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know This may be a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite potent possum politicians in the course of the early '80s. Allow me to share some things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the constructing from the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired America Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a location to aid its once-a-year Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the festival attracts plenty of individuals yearly, plus they uncover it irresistible.
Outing For a lot of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum would be the equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only in the evening. That's why, after you end up in the correct area in Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', consequently it really is not difficult to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription about the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's part in offering 'both fur and meals' through the entire centuries. It goes read more to say: 'Their existence right here has presented a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard occasions and possesses been an important aid to human survival a great deal more distress and important need.'
Laugh if you like. The men and women of Wausau will giggle with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.