There's a set in position Florida that developed a 12-foot-higher monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tough to investigation On this spend Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of below five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau obtained Unwell and tired with currently being omitted from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each commit Florida requires a Pageant. And not one set set up Florida contains a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got hardly ever visited Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am As a result, generating this up. When you have attended Washington County, you can expect to understand - and know it is a accurate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some rather strong possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share a number of things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the building With all the monument along State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress in selling the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to guidance its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Pageant appeals to Lots of individuals Each and every and on a yearly basis, and so they love website it.
Day trip for lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum may be the identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its hideous physique only at night. This is exactly why, after you find yourself In the suitable commit Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it really is very simple enough to entice (or shoot) 1.
An inscription about the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in giving 'both of those fur and food' through the complete centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence listed here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary periods and has been a crucial support to human survival when in distress and critical will need.'
Chuckle if you want. The people today of Wausau will giggle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.