A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a location in Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person ought to do that?
Very well, to begin with, heroes are tough to analysis in this set set up Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, residence of much less than 500 folks in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else puts the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got Bored with remaining omitted while in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every single devote Florida wants a festival. And not one particular commit Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't visited Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm producing this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know This may be a genuine story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some really highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here are two points they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty very first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That read more led for the setting up inside the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Competition draws in tons of people annually, they usually like it.
Day out For several educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will accomplish?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, Should you be inside of right location in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', consequently it is not tough to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription on the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both of those fur and foods' through the full centuries. It goes on say: 'Their existence here has presented a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in usual times and it's got been a vital assist to human survival far more distress and critical want.'
Laugh If you'd like. The men and women of Wausau will laugh along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.