There's a spend Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-superior monument through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any individual would like to do that?
Nicely, to start with, heroes are tough to obtain with this particular place set up Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of under 500 folks in the midst of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to say the least? No person else places the possum on a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and worn out with being omitted within the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Every single set in position Florida requires a Pageant. And never 1 commit Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never attended Washington County, you probably will Imagine I am making this up. Should you have frequented Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know this is a correct story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some rather effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are some things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the Original Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led for the constructing in the monument along Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even got The usa Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable Possum Removal Melbourne by providing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a location to support its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other matters, the festival attracts Countless men and women Each individual and annually, plus they adore it.
Trip for a lot of educating of Northerners right here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and reveals its unsightly entire body only in the evening. This is exactly why, after you end up within the suitable commit Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it really is not so hard to hook (or shoot) one.
An inscription for that monument in the midst of Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'both equally fur and food stuff' all through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence right here has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in standard times and it has been an essential assist to human survival far more distress and important need to have.'
Snicker if you like. The people of Wausau will laugh along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.