There's a place in position Florida that constructed a 12-foot-high monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person choose to do that?
Perfectly, initial off, heroes are tough to seek out within this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, house of fewer than 500 people all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Sick and tired of staying left out with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each spot in Florida needs a festival. And not 1 commit Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am thus, building this up. In case you have gone to Washington County, you can comprehend - and know that is a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some fairly strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here's some things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing in the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even click here got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the exciting by offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a spot to carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant attracts A huge number of persons annually, and In addition they like it.
Day trip for any few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is definitely the identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, For anyone who is inside of ideal put set up Florida, you could hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It is really simple more than enough seize (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription for the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both of those fur and food' from the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular times and it's been an essential support to human survival in situations of distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people today of Wausau will chuckle with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.