There's a place set up Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-high monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person could possibly love to do that?
Properly, to start with, heroes acquire time and effort to search out with this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, house of less than 500 people throughout Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would count on? Nobody else places the possum more than a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau acquired Bored with becoming overlooked With all the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every put in Florida requires a festival. Rather than one set in place Florida contains a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have hardly ever visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm Hence, building this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you can expect to realize - and know that is a genuine story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are a set of points they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the setting up during the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the fun by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a location to guidance its yearly Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival attracts Many individuals Just about every and each and every year, and they also uncover it irresistible.
Day out to get a couple educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you're within the correct put set get more info up Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is basic adequate to capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription to the monument through Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both equally fur and foods' with the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has presented a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal instances and has been a big help to human survival during situations of distress and significant have to have.'
Chortle if you like. The persons of Wausau will giggle together with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.