There is a place set up Florida that developed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody wish to accomplish that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes consider effort and time to receive in this devote Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, house of much less than five hundred individuals during Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? No person else puts the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with getting disregarded of the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every place in place Florida demands a Pageant. And not 1 location in Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never been to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm earning this up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know this can be a true story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Here are a handful of points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the developing from the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even bought The us Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by means of furnishing the resources for Wausau's Possum removal Caulfield Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to help keep its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival appeals to Lots of people each and every year, and so they adore it.
Time out for lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night. That is why, when you are inside the suitable place set up Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not tricky to capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' through the entire centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has presented a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and possesses been a vital assistance to human survival when in distress and important want.'
Laugh if you prefer. The people of Wausau will giggle together with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.