A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a dedicate Florida that created a 12-foot-high monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may possibly love to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are difficult to seek out on this put in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, dwelling of much less than 500 persons in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else places the possum with a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau received tired of becoming disregarded from your Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single set set up Florida requirements a Competition. Instead of 1 commit Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am making this up. When you have been to Washington County, you may realize - and know this can be a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians from the early '80s. Here are some things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the developing of the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got the United States Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable through offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a location to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the Competition attracts A large number of men and women Just about every and on a yearly basis, furthermore they adore it.
Day trip for some educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unappealing physique only at night. That's why, when you are inside suitable commit Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not so difficult to capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription for the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's job in providing 'each fur and foods' through the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence in this article has furnished a source more info of nutritious and flavorful food items in typical situations and includes been an important support to human survival all through times of distress and significant have to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will giggle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.