There is a invest Florida that built a 12-foot-large monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody wish to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tough to receive In this particular put set up Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of much less than five hundred individuals 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 one else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau got Weary of staying overlooked with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every location in Florida desires a Pageant. And not one commit Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've got never ever gone to Washington County, you most likely will think I'm thus, producing this up. When you have frequented Washington County, you may realize - and know This may be a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly potent possum politicians in early '80s. Here are some things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the making from the monument along Condition Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even got America Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by offering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to assistance its annual Pleasurable Day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival appeals to Many individuals yearly, plus they like it.
Day more info trip for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and exhibits its unappealing physique only at night. That's why, In case you are In the correct put set up Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It is really not so hard to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription within the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's part in delivering 'the two fur and foods' with the entire hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food in standard situations and has been a very important support to human survival during times of distress and demanding have to have.'
Laugh if you prefer. The persons of Wausau will laugh in addition to you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.