There's a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-high monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone desire to do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes are challenging to analysis inside of this set in position Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, house of underneath 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau got Ill and tired with getting overlooked in the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every devote Florida would like a festival. And not one put in Florida features a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you probably will Believe I am creating this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you'll realize - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite effective possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed here are a couple of points they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your creating with the monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the fun by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a region to guidance its yearly Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition check here attracts Lots of people Every and each year, and Additionally they uncover it irresistible.
Outing for your several educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, Should you be throughout the suitable put in Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really straightforward seize (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription around the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both of those fur and foods' over the entire centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their presence listed here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in typical periods and is made up of been a very important guide to human survival when in distress and critical need.'
Snicker if you love. The people today of Wausau will chortle along with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.