A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a dedicate Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person desire to perform that?
Well, to start, heroes take effort and time to study on this devote Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, household of less than five hundred individuals in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you'd expect? No one else places the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau received fed up with being neglected with the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every put in Florida wishes a Pageant. And never one particular devote Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have in no way attended Washington County, you probably will think I'm making this up. When you've got visited Washington County, you can expect to realize - and know this is the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some really potent possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are certain things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making with the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven more info in Wausau.
They even received America Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the fun by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to keep its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the festival appeals to Lots of individuals every year, and so that they locate it irresistible.
Trip for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will execute?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unattractive body only at nighttime. This is exactly why, when you are within the proper make investments Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It'll be quick to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in providing 'each fur and foodstuff' with the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence here has supplied a resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard moments and it's got been a very important help to human survival in moments of distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle if you want. The people of Wausau will chuckle with you - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.