There is a devote Florida that created a 12-foot-large monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person could possibly love to do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes acquire effort and time to have using this devote Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, home of fewer than five hundred persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would assume? Nobody else puts the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, last 1982, Wausau received fed up with staying omitted during the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida desires a festival. And not 1 dedicate Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've hardly ever absent to Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I am producing this up. If you have long gone to Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know that is a true story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some really effective possum politicians during the early '80s. Listed here are certain things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making of your monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by way of delivering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to help keep its once-a-year Fun Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other things, the Pageant draws in A large number of individuals each year, additionally they like it.
Day out For lots of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unappealing entire body only at night. That is why, whenever you find yourself inside the proper place in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', hence it can be uncomplicated sufficient to trap check here (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription across the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's function in furnishing 'the two fur and foods' with the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has offered a resource of nutritious and flavorful food in regular occasions and possesses been a major help to human survival way more distress and significant will need.'
Chortle should you'd favor. The folks of Wausau will laugh in addition to you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.