A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a place in Florida that developed a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual may like to do that?
Nicely, to get started with, heroes are hard to come by inside this devote Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, house of fewer than five hundred people through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else places the possum which has a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Weary of currently being ignored while in the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every make investments Florida needs a festival. And not one particular position in Florida incorporates a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't long gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I'm generating this up. When you have been to Washington County, you may recognize - and know this is a correct story.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are two points they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the constructing within the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by way of giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to support its annual Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant attracts 1000s of persons Every single and annually, in addition they adore it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unattractive overall body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, if you end up inside the proper put in Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', therefore it's not so tough capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription to the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's function in delivering 'both fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical moments and has been a very important guide to human survival in here periods of distress and important want.'
Snicker if you prefer. The persons of Wausau will laugh together - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.