There's a devote Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument throughout town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to accomplish that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes choose effort and time to find using this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of less than 500 people through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would probably be expecting? No person else puts the possum about a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and Weary of being neglected within the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each individual devote Florida needs a Competition. And never one position in Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have not gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I'm causeing this being up. If you have frequented Washington County, you can understand - and know It's a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share certain things they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the developing in the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even received the United States Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable as a result of offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a spot to hold its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant appeals to Lots of individuals Just about every and each and every year, and In addition they find it irresistible.
Outing for a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive entire body only during the night. That's why, For anyone who is In the correct dedicate Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be easy sufficient to trap (or shoot) a single.
An inscription around the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in giving 'each fur and foods' through the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their click here presence below has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in typical periods and is made up of been a vital guide to human survival all through moments of distress and important have to have.'
Laugh If you prefer. The people of Wausau will snicker with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.