There is a put in place Florida that built a twelve-foot-significant monument throughout city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person must do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes get time and effort to locate using this type of dedicate Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred people all through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to state the least? Nobody else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau acquired Unwell and exhausted with currently being left out from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each individual put in Florida needs a Pageant. Rather than a person commit Florida contains a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm developing this up. Should you have attended Washington County, you can understand - and know This is a real story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some rather impressive possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the making Using the monument together Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to keep its yearly Entertaining Working day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum get more info auction, amid other factors, the Competition draws in A large number of individuals annually, and In addition they like it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unpleasant entire body only during the night. This is why, after you end up within the suitable set set up Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', hence it's not so hard to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription across the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's function in furnishing 'equally fur and foods' from the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has provided a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in usual situations and possesses been a significant help to human survival when in distress and significant will need.'
Chortle if you like. The men and women of Wausau will laugh in conjunction with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.