There's a invest Florida that designed a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may possibly love to do that?
Nicely, to start with off, heroes are difficult to come by on this devote Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, house of lower than five hundred people in the guts of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you would probably anticipate? Nobody else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back again 1982, Wausau got Ill and fatigued with being disregarded With all the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each individual devote Florida wishes a Pageant. And never a single commit Florida features a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got under no circumstances attended Washington County, you most likely will think I'm earning this up. Should you have attended Washington County, you may understand - and know this is the accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, had some rather highly effective possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share a pair of items they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida check here Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the building With all the monument together Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained The us Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the exciting by giving the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have an area to carry its once-a-year Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant draws in A huge number of persons annually, plus they adore it.
Day trip for a few educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unattractive human body only at night. This is why, Should you be in the proper commit Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It truly is straightforward ample to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription around the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'both of those fur and foodstuff' in the overall generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence below has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful meals in standard periods and it's got been a significant help to human survival considerably more distress and significant want.'
Chuckle if you love. The people today of Wausau will giggle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.