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's a place in Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone might love to do that?
Properly, to get started on, heroes get time and effort to exploration During this position in Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of fewer than five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the least? No one else places the possum on a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau bought Ill and drained with being left out With all the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every invest Florida demands a Competition. Instead of one location in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm building this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you may recognize - and know this can be a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some rather effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Here's some things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led into the creating of your monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the fun by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to hold its yearly Pleasurable Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other points, the Pageant attracts tons of folks Each and every and each year, in addition they come across it irresistible.
Outing for many educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will complete?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. This is exactly why, when you click here are within the proper devote Florida, you can hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'equally fur and foods' with the generations. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in regular instances and it's been An important aid to human survival when in distress and important need to have.'
Snicker if you like. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.