There's a commit Florida that designed a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual wish to do that?
Nicely, to begin with, heroes are tough to research inside of this set in position Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, residence of less than five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero understandably? Nobody else puts the possum to the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with remaining neglected inside the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every commit Florida wants a festival. And not one devote Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never long gone to Washington County, you probably will Consider I'm making this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you will comprehend - and know this is a legitimate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly powerful possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share some things they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the building While using the monument along Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by means of offering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to hold its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other points, the Competition attracts heaps of people Every single and on a yearly basis, and In addition they uncover it irresistible.
Time out for many educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its ugly human body only at night. This is exactly why, after you find yourself while in the right put set up Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely be easy to catch (or shoot) just one.
An inscription to the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both equally fur and food stuff' all over the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal situations and it's been a big assist to human survival in occasions of distress and important need to click here have.'
Laugh If you need. The folks of Wausau will snicker with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.