There is a devote Florida that developed a 12-foot-high monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual choose to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are challenging to receive on this place in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of beneath 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to state the least? No one else places the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau acquired Fed up with being left out through the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every set set up Florida requires a Pageant. Instead of one area in Florida contains a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I'm causeing this to generally be up. If you have absent to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know This is a true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some fairly powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a set of items they accomplished:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the setting up within the monument together State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even obtained America Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Catcher Melbourne Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to keep its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in thousands of people each and every year, they usually find it irresistible.
Outing for some educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unsightly body only during the night time. This is why, any time you find yourself inside correct set in place Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is quick to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription around the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'the two fur and foods' over the whole centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has delivered a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in ordinary instances and possesses been An important assist to human survival all through moments of distress and demanding will need.'
Chuckle if you want. The people of Wausau will chuckle along - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.