A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a place in Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may like to do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes are difficult to find using this type of put in position Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to convey the minimum? Nobody else places the possum on a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and Fed up with getting disregarded with the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each place set up Florida requires a Competition. Rather than one set set up Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am Consequently, earning this up. In case you have frequented Washington County, you may comprehend - and know This is a real story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some really effective possum politicians in early '80s. Allow me to share a couple of issues they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the developing With all the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a locale to carry its yearly Exciting Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Competition appeals to a lot of men and women Each individual and every year, and In addition they locate it irresistible.
Outing for a lot of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum may be the equivalent lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unappealing physique only at night. This is exactly why, after you find yourself within correct spend Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will likely here be very simple more than enough capture (or shoot) a person.
An inscription for your monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in giving 'each fur and foods' through the overall hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary instances and is made up of been a significant assist to human survival far more distress and important need to have.'
Chuckle In order for you. The people today of Wausau will chuckle with you - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.