A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a set in position Florida that constructed a 12-foot-higher monument for the duration of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may like to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are hard to research using this devote Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, home of beneath five hundred persons for the duration of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero as you would hope? No person else places the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, final 1982, Wausau acquired fed up with remaining ignored of the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Each invest Florida wants a festival. And never one spend Florida features a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't frequented Washington County, you most likely will Assume I am So, building this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you may have an understanding of - and know this can be a true story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some rather effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are some things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to the creating through the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a locale to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the festival appeals to A lot of people Just about every and each year, and so they adore it.
Day out For several educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant overall body only at night. That's why, if you find yourself while in the proper position in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be straightforward capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription about the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'both equally fur and meals' from the whole read more generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence listed here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary instances and possesses been An important assist to human survival for the duration of periods of distress and important need.'
Laugh if you like. The people of Wausau will snicker together with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.