A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a dedicate Florida that crafted a 12-foot-high monument through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may well like to do that?
Nicely, to begin, heroes are hard to come by using this type of invest Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, residence of fewer than five hundred folks in the course of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to convey the least? No one else places the possum which has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received fed up with staying left out inside the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each spend Florida needs a Pageant. Instead of just one set set up Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you have not visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am causeing this to become up. When you've got attended Washington County, you can expect to recognize - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some rather strong possum politicians during the early '80s. Here are two points they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the setting up in the monument along State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the fun by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might need a location to hold its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Competition draws in tons of people Every and every year, plus they adore it.
Outing for lots of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing physique only at nighttime. This is why, In case you are within appropriate put in Florida, you may hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', for that reason it truly is not so challenging capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription with the monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and food items' all through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal moments and it's got been A necessary aid to human survival when in distress and important have to have.'
Laugh if you want. The individuals of Wausau will chuckle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet check here potatoes.