There is a location in Florida that constructed a 12-foot-superior monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to perform that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes consider effort and time to return by on this invest Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, property of less than 500 people in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd hope? No one else places the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau bought fed up with currently being overlooked with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every commit Florida needs a festival. Instead of one put in Florida has a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've got never ever been to Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am building this up. When you have attended Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This is actually the legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some pretty effective possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share two matters they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the building Along with the monument together State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a place to carry its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition appeals to Many individuals on a yearly basis, in addition they adore it.
Day trip for some website educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are within the proper spend Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really simple enough to lure (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription concerning the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in delivering 'both fur and foodstuff' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence in this article has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in regular instances and has been an essential guide to human survival in times of distress and significant require.'
Snicker if you prefer. The men and women of Wausau will laugh with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.