There is a invest Florida that crafted a 12-foot-high monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes get time and effort to come back by with this particular place in position Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, property of less than five hundred persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero as you'll count on? Nobody else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau bought sick and Uninterested in remaining neglected through the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every commit Florida desires a festival. And not 1 commit Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't gone to Washington County, you most likely will Consider I am building this up. In case you have frequented Washington County, you may understand - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly strong possum politicians through the early '80s. Allow me to share two issues they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the quite initially Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the setting up While using the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the exciting by supplying the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a place to carry its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the festival attracts 1000s of persons each year, and they also adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unpleasant physique only during the night. This is why, if you find yourself inside the correct devote Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', as a result it can be simple sufficient capture (or shoot) 1.
An inscription within the monument through Wausau cites the possum's job in furnishing 'equally fur and meals' from the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence in this article has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in click here regular moments and possesses been a big assist to human survival in periods of distress and important require.'
Giggle if you like. The individuals of Wausau will laugh in addition to you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.