An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
An area in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a place set up Florida that developed a 12-foot-higher monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one need to do that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are challenging to come by With this commit Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, household of less than 500 people through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else places the possum on the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Sick and tired of becoming overlooked while in the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each individual position in Florida requires a Competition. Rather than 1 commit Florida has a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you probably will Feel I am developing this up. For those who have visited Washington County, you are going to understand - and know that is a real Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty strong possum politicians from the early '80s. Allow me to share a set of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the incredibly first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the creating While using the monument along Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the fun as a result of giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a locale to hold its annual Enjoyable Day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other issues, the Pageant draws in Countless individuals on a yearly basis, and In addition they find it irresistible.
Time out for a number of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is the equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unpleasant body only in the evening. This is why, if you find yourself within the correct spend Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is not so complicated capture (or shoot) 1.
An inscription across the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in giving 'both fur and food' through the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their presence listed here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in standard occasions and it's got been a vital assist to human survival through moments check here of distress and important need to have.'
Snicker in case you'd desire. The people today of Wausau will snicker alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.