There is a area in Florida that built a 12-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person would like to perform that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes take time and effort to investigation in this position in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than five hundred persons in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'll assume? Nobody else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau obtained Bored with getting neglected during the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each set in place Florida needs a Competition. And not just one devote Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am causeing this to become up. For those who have been to Washington County, you can comprehend - and know Here is the real Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some really potent possum politicians within the early '80s. Here are a pair of issues they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the really 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the setting up in the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The us Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to help keep its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant attracts Many of us each year, and Additionally they like it.
Outing for any several educating of Northerners right get more info here. The South's possum could be the identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, In case you are inside of ideal place in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so it's very simple enough seize (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription in regards to the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'the two fur and food' throughout the whole hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary moments and possesses been a crucial guide to human survival through instances of distress and important need to have.'
Chuckle if you like. The people of Wausau will laugh along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.