There's a position in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-superior monument for the duration of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone desire to accomplish that?
Well, to get started with, heroes are tricky to return by In this particular set in place Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of under five hundred folks for the duration of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero to convey the the very least? No person else puts the possum using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau obtained Uninterested in becoming overlooked of your Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each put in place Florida would like a Competition. And never one set set up Florida contains a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've hardly ever visited Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am causeing this for being up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you can expect to comprehend - and know This can be the real story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss a number of items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the developing With all the monument alongside State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by means of giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Pageant attracts heaps of individuals Every and each and every year, plus they discover it irresistible.
Day out for just a couple educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum will be the equivalent lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unattractive entire body only during the night time. That's why, if you are inside correct devote Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it will be not tricky to catch (or shoot) one particular.
An click here inscription around the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'both equally fur and meals' with the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful meals in typical situations and consists of been a major help to human survival considerably more distress and critical will need.'
Laugh if you like. The individuals of Wausau will giggle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.