There is a set in place Florida that built a 12-foot-high monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one desire to perform that?
Very well, to start, heroes are hard to get within just this commit Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, residence of a lot less than 500 people in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the minimum? Nobody else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, past 1982, Wausau bought Ill and tired with staying left out Together with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida would like a Pageant. Rather than one commit Florida has a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Feel I am generating this up. In case you have absent to Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know this can be a accurate story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some very potent possum politicians from the early '80s. Here's a pair of items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the setting up Along with the monument along State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received America Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to hold its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other factors, the Competition draws in Many individuals yearly, and so they like it.
Time out For several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will conduct?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant system only at nighttime. This is exactly why, if you're within the appropriate commit Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not difficult to entice (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription round the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's function in giving 'both fur and foods' with the complete generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual periods and possesses been a crucial assist to human survival in occasions of distress and demanding have to have.'
Chortle more info if you like. The men and women of Wausau will laugh with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.