There's a make investments Florida that constructed a 12-foot-large monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual choose to do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are tough to return by using this type of devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of under five hundred folks in the middle of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum around the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with staying ignored within the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every put in Florida requires a festival. Instead of one devote Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never been to Washington County, you probably will think I am causeing this to get up. In case you have visited Washington County, you'll realize - and know It's a true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some really effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's a set of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the creating With all the monument along Point out Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The usa Congress to marketplace the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by means of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a place to hold its annual Fun Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the festival draws in Lots of individuals every year, and so that they like it.
Outing for a great deal of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is definitely the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing body only during the night. That is why, when you're Within the ideal spot website in Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be uncomplicated sufficient seize (or shoot) 1.
An inscription to the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's position in delivering 'equally fur and meals' all through the hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in regular periods and has been an essential assistance to human survival considerably more distress and important need.'
Laugh If you would like. The individuals of Wausau will laugh together with you - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.