There is a make investments Florida that developed a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may possibly like to do that?
Effectively, to get started with, heroes are difficult to come back by within this commit Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred folks in the center 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 more than a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Fed up with remaining omitted in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every area in Florida needs a Competition. And never one spend Florida includes a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have by no means attended Washington County, you probably will Assume I am Therefore, producing this up. For those who have absent to Washington County, you'll understand - and know This may be a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very impressive possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Listed below are a number of things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing with the monument along Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun through providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to hold its annual Entertaining Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Competition draws in lots of individuals Each and every and each year, plus they locate it irresistible.
Trip For a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum may be the equivalent lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is why, if you find yourself Within the correct place in place Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It is easy more than enough to lure (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with regards to the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both equally fur and food' during the entire generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard instances and it has been a crucial help to website human survival far more distress and important want.'
Snicker if you love. The men and women of Wausau will snicker alongside - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.