There is a commit Florida that developed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one want to perform that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes consider time and effort to exploration Within this location in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred folks in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll count on? No person else puts the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with being omitted in the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every position in Florida wishes a Competition. And not one particular invest Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never ever attended Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I am Therefore, building this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you can understand - and know this is a legitimate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some pretty potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly to start with Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your making from the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to hold its once-a-year Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Pageant appeals to thousands of folks annually, they usually like it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you end up during the correct location in Florida, you'll be able get more info to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it really is not so challenging to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription for that monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'equally fur and food items' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in normal times and it has been A necessary assist to human survival in situations of distress and significant want.'
Snicker if you like. The people today of Wausau will laugh with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.