There is a location in Florida that built a twelve-foot-superior monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual could possibly love to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are challenging to come by in this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, residence of lower than five hundred persons all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else places the possum using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received Ill and drained with getting neglected Along with the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida demands a festival. And not just one place in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I am producing this up. Should you have visited Washington County, you can expect to understand - and know This can be the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some pretty impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Here's two issues they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the developing within the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a site to help its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival attracts A large number of men and women Just about every and annually, and so they adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, when you end up inside correct spot in Florida, you may hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', consequently it is not so complicated capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription to the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's part in giving 'both fur and foods' all over the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has presented a supply of nutritious and flavorful website food stuff in ordinary situations and has been a very important guide to human survival much more distress and demanding need to have.'
Laugh if you love. The people today of Wausau will laugh together - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.