There's a devote Florida that built a 12-foot-substantial monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one wish to perform that?
Very well, first off, heroes are really hard to research on this commit Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, home of beneath 500 folks in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau acquired Ill and weary with getting overlooked With all the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every location in Florida desires a Pageant. And never just one commit Florida has a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am So, earning this up. For those who have visited Washington County, you'll recognize - and know This can be the accurate Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some quite powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Allow me to share a set of factors they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the making through the monument together Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to help keep its annual Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in Lots of people every year, and so that they find it irresistible.
Day trip For a lot of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will accomplish?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, if you're within the right read more make investments Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's quick to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription around the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and food items' in the hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful meals in usual times and has been a major help to human survival when in distress and demanding need to have.'
Giggle for those who'd like. The people today of Wausau will snicker together with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.