A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a place in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-large monument during town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to accomplish that?
Very well, to start with, heroes consider time and effort to analysis in just this put set up Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of under five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you should be expecting? Nobody else puts the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and worn out with getting omitted of your Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every spend Florida needs a festival. Instead of a person place in place Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm generating this up. If you have attended Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know This may be a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some really potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed here are two factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the creating from the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a region to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the Competition attracts loads of folks annually, plus they uncover it irresistible.
Outing for a great deal of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only during the night time. That is why, when you're inside the suitable put set up Florida, you may hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it's not so difficult to hook (or shoot) 1.
An inscription with the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both equally fur and food items' through the entire generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful read more food in ordinary occasions and it has been an important support to human survival when in distress and significant need to have.'
Chuckle in case you'd favor. The people today of Wausau will chortle together - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.