There is a dedicate Florida that constructed a 12-foot-high monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to do that?
Perfectly, to get started on, heroes are challenging to investigation on this location in Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of fewer than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to say the minimum? No one else places the possum using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau got Weary of remaining neglected Together with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each individual spot in Florida requires a Pageant. Rather than just one commit Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not absent to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm creating this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you can recognize - and know This is actually the legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some really effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here are certain things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the developing from the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable via supplying the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have an area to carry its annual Fun Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Pageant draws in A huge number of people today yearly, and so they adore it.
Trip for the handful of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its hideous entire body only at night. This is exactly why, if you are inside website the ideal location in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It can be quick seize (or shoot) 1.
An inscription across the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'each fur and food stuff' throughout the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical situations and it has been a crucial support to human survival in occasions of distress and demanding will need.'
Chortle if you love. The individuals of Wausau will laugh along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.