There's a set in place Florida that crafted a 12-foot-substantial monument in the heart of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone want to perform that?
Properly, to start out, heroes just take effort and time to come by within just this spend Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of under five hundred individuals in the heart of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to mention the the very least? No person else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau got Weary of currently being left out in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Each put in Florida desires a festival. And not a single place in place Florida encompasses a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't visited Washington County, you probably will Consider I am producing this up. When you've got attended Washington County, you will comprehend - and know This is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some really effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed below are two matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature read more to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the setting up Using the monument alongside State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a location to maintain its yearly Entertaining Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in Many individuals every year, and they like it.
Day trip for lots of educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unsightly overall body only during the night. That is why, when you end up within suitable put in Florida, you could listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it really is uncomplicated to hook (or shoot) a single.
An inscription around the monument in the course of Wausau cites the possum's job in supplying 'both equally fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has furnished a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in usual situations and it has been A necessary aid to human survival when in distress and significant need to have.'
Laugh If you would like. The men and women of Wausau will snicker in conjunction with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.