There's a dedicate Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-substantial monument in the center of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody desire to accomplish that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are tricky to come by Within this place in Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, household of much less than 500 people in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero to state the least? No one else places the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau received sick and fatigued with remaining overlooked Together with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Every invest Florida needs a Competition. Instead of just one position in Florida contains a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Consider I'm causeing this to generally be up. For those who have been to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know This is actually the genuine story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some quite effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Here are a few factors they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led on the constructing through the monument alongside State Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable via furnishing the money website for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a place to carry its once-a-year Entertaining Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other items, the Pageant draws in Many individuals Every single and annually, and they also adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is comparable lowly animal you call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and demonstrates its unattractive physique only in the evening. That's why, when you're inside the ideal set set up Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it's not hard to lure (or shoot) one.
An inscription throughout the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'both fur and meals' during the whole hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their presence below has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical periods and it has been a vital assist to human survival in periods of distress and demanding need.'
Giggle if you like. The folks of Wausau will snicker along - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.