There's a dedicate Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tricky to return by with this spend Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, residence of fewer than 500 persons in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the the very least? Nobody else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau received sick and Weary of becoming disregarded Along with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every spot in Florida demands a festival. And never just one commit Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have never visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am generating this up. If you have absent to Washington County, you are going to understand - and know this can be a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are certain things they completed:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the making While using the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to support its annual Entertaining Day Possum removal Glen iris and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition appeals to A large number of folks Each individual and each and every year, and so they obtain it irresistible.
Outing for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only in the evening. This is why, if you're in the appropriate spend Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be easy to capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription over the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'both fur and food' with the whole generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence in this article has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food in typical situations and consists of been a substantial guide to human survival much more distress and significant require.'
Giggle if you prefer. The people of Wausau will chuckle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.