There's a place in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-large monument in the midst of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual want to accomplish that?
Very well, to get started on, heroes are tricky to find on this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, property of much less than five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to mention the least? Nobody else puts the possum about a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again in 1982, Wausau got Ill and tired of getting disregarded with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each devote Florida requirements a Competition. Instead of 1 set set up Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you most likely will Assume I'm Consequently, generating this up. For those who have absent to Washington County, you'll realize - and know This may be a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here i will discuss two things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the building from your monument together Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought America Congress in endorsing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by providing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could get more info have a location to guidance its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to 1000s of people today each and on a yearly basis, plus they adore it.
Trip for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, If you're In the appropriate commit Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so Will probably be not tricky to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription over the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and foodstuff' through the hundreds of years. It goes onto say: 'Their existence below has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in normal times and it has been A necessary assist to human survival in moments of distress and demanding have to have.'
Laugh if you prefer. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.