There's a spend Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody really need to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are difficult to seek out on this commit Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, property of fewer than five hundred individuals through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No one else places the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with getting disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every area in Florida wants a Competition. Rather than a single commit Florida features a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have in no way absent to Washington County, you probably will Assume I am creating this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This is actually the real story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share a pair of items they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty initially Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the making while in the monument together State Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to help keep its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other points, the Pageant draws in a lot of men and women Every and each year, as well as they adore it.
Day trip for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar 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 displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. That is why, If you're within proper set in read more position Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so It really is basic sufficient to entice (or shoot) a single.
An inscription across the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'equally fur and food stuff' in the full generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical instances and consists of been A necessary assist to human survival in moments of distress and demanding have to have.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The men and women of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.