There is a commit Florida that built a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual desire to do that?
Effectively, 1st off, heroes are hard to receive inside this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of less than 500 folks in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? No person else puts the possum that has a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau obtained fed up with becoming ignored within the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each dedicate Florida demands a Pageant. Instead of just one position in Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you've got never frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm making this up. If you have long gone to Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know It's really a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some fairly powerful possum politicians during the early '80s. Listed below are two items they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the First Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the setting up from the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable as a result of supplying the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to support its once-a-year Entertaining Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Competition draws in many people Every single and yearly, and they also come across it irresistible.
Outing for a lot of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum could be the similar lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will carry out?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and demonstrates its unpleasant system only at night. This is exactly why, For anyone who is from the correct put set up Florida, you may hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be not so tough to capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription for the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's position in providing 'equally fur and food stuff' from the hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence listed here has delivered a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical times and possesses been An important support to human survival in times of click here distress and critical want.'
Snicker if you love. The people of Wausau will giggle along with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.