There is a dedicate Florida that developed a 12-foot-substantial monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one would like to do that?
Well, first off, heroes choose time and effort to research on this commit Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, house of below 500 individuals in the course of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? Nobody else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, final 1982, Wausau got Ill and Uninterested in being ignored within the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every single put in position Florida requires a Competition. And not just one location in Florida incorporates a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have never visited Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am earning this up. Should you have gone to Washington County, you are going to recognize - and know Here is the real Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some very highly effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Here's two or three points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Preliminary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the developing with the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to help its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the festival attracts A large number of people yearly, and so that they discover it irresistible.
Day trip for a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unappealing body only at night. This is exactly why, if you are inside the correct dedicate Florida, you can hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', consequently it truly is simple adequate to capture (or shoot) 1.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in supplying 'each fur and food' through the centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has provided a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal periods and it's got been an essential aid to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Laugh If you'd like. The individuals of get more info Wausau will chuckle with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.