There is a place set up Florida that designed a twelve-foot-superior monument in the guts of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody would like to perform that?
Nicely, to start out, heroes are tough to investigate inside of this location in Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland- Wausau, household of below five hundred persons in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would probably anticipate? No one else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back again in 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with getting ignored inside the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every dedicate Florida wants a Competition. Instead of one invest Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you've got hardly ever gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I'm causeing this to get up. When you've got frequented Washington County, you are going to realize - and know It is just a accurate Tale.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some very powerful possum politicians inside the early '80s. Listed below are several matters they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the making While using the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even received the United States Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by supplying the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to hold its annual Fun Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other matters, the festival draws in A huge number of persons every year, plus they like it.
Outing For several educating of Northerners right here. The South's read more possum is equivalent lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and exhibits its unattractive human body only during the night time. This is why, after you end up throughout the appropriate dedicate Florida, you can hear possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', as a result it really is not challenging to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription within the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'both equally fur and food items' with the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence listed here has presented an origin of nutritious and flavorful foods in normal moments and it's been a significant assist to human survival in instances of distress and critical want.'
Giggle if you're keen on. The people today of Wausau will chuckle along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.