There's a place set up Florida that created a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone desire to perform that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are tough to search out on this invest Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of underneath five hundred persons in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to mention the minimum? No one else puts the possum which has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received Unwell and tired of currently being overlooked of your Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every dedicate Florida requirements a Competition. Instead of just one dedicate Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have hardly ever been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am generating this up. In case you have attended Washington County, you'll comprehend - and know This may be a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some really highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two points they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your building on the monument together Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to current market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a site to hold its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the festival appeals to many people annually, and in order that they like it.
Outing For lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use click here 7 letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its hideous human body only during the night. That's why, once you end up within the appropriate set in place Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be uncomplicated capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription round the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in providing 'each fur and foodstuff' all through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in normal situations and possesses been a major assist to human survival much more distress and significant want.'
Chortle in the event you'd want. The folks of Wausau will chortle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.