There's a put in Florida that designed a 12-foot-high monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone ought to do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes get effort and time to obtain in this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of below 500 people throughout Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Bored with currently being overlooked from the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual put in Florida requires a Competition. Instead of 1 put in Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am producing this up. When you've got absent to Washington County, you will comprehend - and know it is a real story.
Wausau, it proved, had some pretty impressive possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are a pair of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up while in the monument alongside State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even obtained The us Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to carry its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other factors, the festival attracts A huge number of individuals on a yearly basis, and they also like it.
Outing for just a couple of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum will be the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays click here its hideous system only during the night time. This is why, while you are In the appropriate set in position Florida, you could hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is uncomplicated ample to lure (or shoot) just one.
An inscription about the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'both equally fur and foodstuff' over the whole hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence listed here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical periods and possesses been a very important assist to human survival in instances of distress and demanding require.'
Laugh if you want. The people of Wausau will chortle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.