There's a put in Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person want to perform that?
Effectively, to start out, heroes acquire effort and time to return by in just this commit Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, dwelling of lower than five hundred persons all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and weary with getting disregarded Along with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every spend Florida demands a Competition. And never 1 dedicate Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not absent to Washington County, you probably will Feel I am causeing this to become up. When you've got been to Washington County, you can expect to realize - and know this can be a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some rather strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here are two points they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your constructing through the monument along Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to carry its annual Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant draws in a lot of folks Each and every and annually, they usually like it.
Time out for a few click here educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only during the night time. That's why, if you find yourself in the correct make investments Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', thus it can be quick seize (or shoot) a single.
An inscription on the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'the two fur and food stuff' from the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual periods and possesses been a major support to human survival all through moments of distress and significant want.'
Snicker if you want. The individuals of Wausau will chortle alongside - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.