There is a place in position Florida that designed a 12-foot-significant monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person may possibly like to do that?
Very well, to start out, heroes are complicated to investigate using this area in Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, dwelling of below five hundred individuals in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else places the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau received sick and exhausted with getting omitted within the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each and every put in Florida needs a festival. And not one particular spend Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have hardly ever frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I am As a result, building this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you may recognize - and know it is a true Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some very highly effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below read more are some things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing with the monument alongside Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to carry its yearly Fun Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the festival attracts loads of individuals annually, and In addition they obtain it irresistible.
Time out for a great deal of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum will be the identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unsightly entire body only during the night. That's why, For anyone who is within the suitable place in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be simple seize (or shoot) just one.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'both equally fur and meals' throughout the generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence in this article has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular moments and possesses been an essential help to human survival for the duration of periods of distress and demanding will need.'
Laugh if you like. The people of Wausau will chuckle with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.