There is a spend Florida that designed a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual need to do that?
Effectively, to start with, heroes are difficult to acquire on this devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau bought Bored with becoming ignored in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every invest Florida desires a festival. And not a single put set up Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have by no means visited Washington County, you most likely will Consider I am developing this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you will understand - and know It is just a true story.
Wausau, it wound up, had some pretty powerful possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed here are two or three things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the creating of the monument together Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received America Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau get more info may need a site to carry its annual Exciting Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the Pageant appeals to A lot of people Just about every and every year, and they also uncover it irresistible.
Day out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum may be the identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 can perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unsightly system only during the night. This is exactly why, while you are inside the appropriate location in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is basic ample to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for your monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'equally fur and food' all through the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal instances and it's got been a vital help to human survival when in distress and important have to have.'
Giggle if you like. The persons of Wausau will chuckle in addition to you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.