There is a spot in Florida that crafted a 12-foot-superior monument during city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody choose to do that?
Effectively, to start, heroes are difficult to locate on this spend Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, residence of fewer than 500 folks through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau got Unwell and Fed up with becoming omitted While using the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual place in Florida wishes a Pageant. And never a single place in place Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am building this up. If you have long gone to Washington County, you'll understand - and know It's a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians within the early '80s. Here are two issues they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the constructing With all the monument together State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress in advertising the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by giving the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to keep its yearly Enjoyment Day and Possum Pageant. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Competition appeals to A lot of people yearly, and In addition they find it irresistible.
Day out for lots of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will conduct?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unsightly entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, If you're inside of right area in Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', consequently it truly is not so challenging seize (or shoot) just one.
An inscription website over the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in furnishing 'both equally fur and food items' all through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in ordinary times and it has been a very important support to human survival when in distress and important will need.'
Laugh in the event you'd like. The people of Wausau will giggle along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.