There's a devote Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person really need to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes are really hard to seek out inside of this devote Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, house of a lot less than five hundred individuals all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else places the possum above a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back again 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and Bored with currently being ignored While using the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every commit Florida desires a festival. And never 1 spot in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you probably will Consider I am creating this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you are going to realize - and know It's a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's a handful of items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your building in the monument alongside State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got America Congress more info to publicize the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a region to help keep its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition draws in A lot of people yearly, and in order that they adore it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is definitely the identical lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant entire body only during the night time. That's why, if you are In the proper set in position Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is very simple ample seize (or shoot) 1.
An inscription regarding the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'both equally fur and food' all through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence below has furnished a supply of nutritious and flavorful meals in regular occasions and it has been an essential help to human survival a lot more distress and critical need to have.'
Laugh if you like. The people today of Wausau will chuckle together - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.