A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a place in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument for the duration of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may love to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are challenging to locate on this invest Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland - Wausau, home of much less than 500 individuals in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else places the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, in 1982, Wausau acquired Fed up with getting disregarded within the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each and every dedicate Florida wishes a festival. And not 1 devote Florida incorporates a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you have never visited Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am making this up. When you have long gone to Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know it is a correct Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, had some pretty effective possum politicians inside the early '80s. Here's a pair of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the constructing With all the monument along Condition Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even obtained America Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by giving the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to keep its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other points, the Pageant attracts Many of us on a yearly basis, they usually like it.
Outing to get a several educating of Northerners in this article. The South's possum may be the identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 website will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unpleasant system only at night. That is why, when you're inside the right set set up Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It is not challenging to trap (or shoot) a single.
An inscription about the monument for the duration of Wausau cites the possum's purpose in supplying 'both of those fur and foodstuff' over the entire hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence right here has furnished a source of nutritious and flavorful food items in normal situations and has been a very important assist to human survival in times of distress and demanding need to have.'
Giggle if you prefer. The folks of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.