A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a dedicate Florida that crafted a 12-foot-high monument in the course of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to accomplish that?
Properly, to start out, heroes take effort and time to exploration with this place in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the the very least? Nobody else places the possum with a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau got Unwell and exhausted with getting left out within the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every single commit Florida demands a Pageant. And not a single location in Florida carries a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never frequented Washington County, you most likely will Believe I am causeing this to be up. When you've got attended Washington County, you can comprehend - and know this is the correct story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some quite strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Allow me to share two matters they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing on the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by means of furnishing the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to guidance its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other factors, the Pageant attracts heaps of individuals Just about every and annually, plus they locate it irresistible.
Trip for a few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are within the proper devote Florida, you can listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. check here Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'equally fur and food items' with the complete generations. It goes to say: 'Their existence in this article has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical occasions and consists of been a crucial aid to human survival for the duration of occasions of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle for those who'd choose. The people today of Wausau will chuckle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.