There's a devote Florida that built a twelve-foot-higher monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person would like to perform that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes take effort and time to come back by on this commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of much less than five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll anticipate? Nobody else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau got Sick and tired of getting disregarded Together with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every area in Florida demands a festival. Instead of 1 commit Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you probably will think I'm thus, earning this up. When you've got frequented Washington County, you will comprehend - and know This is a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather potent possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here i will discuss a pair of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the setting up of your monument along Point out read more Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a spot to help its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the Pageant draws in Countless people yearly, and In addition they come across it irresistible.
Day trip for a few educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is definitely the similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will execute?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unattractive entire body only at night. This is exactly why, once you end up Within the correct position in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it will be easy to entice (or shoot) one.
An inscription round the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'both equally fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has presented a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular moments and possesses been A necessary support to human survival in periods of distress and important have to have.'
Chortle If you prefer. The folks of Wausau will chuckle with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.