There is a set in place Florida that created a twelve-foot-higher monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual ought to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes are tough to search out During this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, household of less than 500 persons in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'd probably anticipate? No person else places the possum on a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau received Ill and drained with being neglected in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each place in Florida demands a festival. Rather than 1 spend Florida provides a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not long gone to Washington County, you probably will Feel I'm Hence, creating this up. For those who have long gone to Washington County, you can comprehend - and know This can be the true story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some rather impressive possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here i will discuss two factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the developing within the monument alongside Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The us Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring check here a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the Pageant appeals to thousands of people each year, moreover they like it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant human body only at night. That's why, while you are inside of proper location in Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is not so tricky to entice (or shoot) 1.
An inscription round the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'equally fur and food items' through the entire centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has offered a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular situations and possesses been a big aid to human survival through instances of distress and critical will need.'
Laugh If you need. The people of Wausau will chortle along - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.