There's a invest Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-superior monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one want to do that?
Properly, to start with, heroes are hard to research using this type of place set up Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of fewer than five hundred people in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you should be expecting? No one else puts the possum over the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got Weary of becoming disregarded in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each and every set set up Florida requires a Competition. Instead of one spot in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Imagine I'm creating this up. Should you have gone to Washington County, you'll understand - and know this can be a accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather potent possum politicians from the early '80s. Listed here are certain things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the extremely first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the setting up in the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought the United States Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by furnishing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to carry its annual Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other issues, the Competition appeals to Lots of people every year, furthermore they adore it.
Time out for a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its ugly entire body only in the evening. That's why, when you find yourself during the more info ideal put in place Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be easy to lure (or shoot) one.
An inscription round the monument throughout Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'both equally fur and foods' throughout the entire centuries. It goes on say: 'Their presence right here has supplied an origin of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard times and possesses been An important support to human survival way more distress and important have to have.'
Laugh if you prefer. The folks of Wausau will chortle with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.