There's a devote Florida that developed a 12-foot-high monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one really need to do that?
Properly, to begin, heroes take effort and time to come by in just this commit Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of less than 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else places the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau received Ill and Uninterested in currently being neglected while in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every place set up Florida demands a Competition. And never 1 dedicate Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you probably will Believe I am developing this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know This can be the correct Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some very effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are a few items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the constructing Together with the monument along State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have an area to support its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other factors, the festival appeals to A lot of people each and every year, and so that they locate it irresistible.
Outing click here for lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unsightly entire body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, whenever you end up inside the right dedicate Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is not so tricky to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription across the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in offering 'the two fur and food items' from the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal occasions and it's been A necessary aid to human survival when in distress and important need to have.'
Laugh If you'd like. The people of Wausau will chuckle as well as you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.