There's a commit Florida that designed a 12-foot-significant monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual desire to perform that?
Effectively, initial off, heroes take effort and time to receive using this type of commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of less than five hundred folks in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No one else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with remaining disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every single place in Florida needs a Competition. And not one particular commit Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got by no means absent to Washington County, you probably will Feel I am earning this up. If you have been to Washington County, you can expect to have an understanding of - and know This may be a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some rather potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Here's a set of matters they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the making during the monument alongside State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got America Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant draws in tons of people every year, furthermore they love it.
Trip for plenty of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are Within the suitable dedicate Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be not so complicated to hook (or shoot) just one.
An inscription regarding the monument in the middle here of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' from the complete generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in normal moments and has been a vital assist to human survival when in distress and demanding need to have.'
Giggle if you're keen on. The people today of Wausau will snicker with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.