There is a put set up Florida that built a twelve-foot-substantial monument throughout city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone need to do that?
Very well, very first off, heroes are difficult to locate inside this commit Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, house of under five hundred persons in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum by using a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau bought sick and Sick and tired of remaining neglected Using the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each dedicate Florida wants a Pageant. And never one particular place in position Florida encompasses a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm making this up. For those who have gone to Washington County, you can expect to fully grasp - and know this can be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some fairly effective possum politicians through the early '80s. Here's a number of factors they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing With all the monument together website State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the fun by way of delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to hold its once-a-year Enjoyable Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival attracts a lot of men and women every year, furthermore they locate it irresistible.
Time out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its ugly human body only during the night time. That's why, if you're within the suitable devote Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it's effortless to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food' in the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular occasions and it has been an essential help to human survival in periods of distress and important need to have.'
Laugh if you prefer. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.