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 twelve-foot-large monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one should do that?
Well, to start with, heroes get effort and time to analysis in this location in Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, home of lower than 500 individuals in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau received tired of getting disregarded inside the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida desires a Pageant. And never one place in position Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've in no way attended Washington County, you most likely will Believe I'm creating this up. In case you have been to Washington County, you will fully grasp - and know It's a legitimate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, had some rather highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share certain things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very to start with Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the creating Along with the monument alongside Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even received The usa Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a place to guidance its once-a-year Enjoyment Day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other items, the Competition attracts Lots of people yearly, in addition they like it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will almost certainly do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unpleasant physique only during the night time. That is why, when you're in the ideal dedicate Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is simple ample to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription within the monument in check here the course of Wausau cites the possum's role in delivering 'both of those fur and food' through the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence right here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in normal occasions and it has been an essential help to human survival when in distress and significant need.'
Snicker if you like. The people of Wausau will chuckle along - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.