A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a commit Florida that created a twelve-foot-high monument in the guts of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody want to perform that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are hard to search out On this devote Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, dwelling of less than 500 folks through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you should count on? No one else places the possum over the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again 1982, Wausau obtained Ill and tired with staying overlooked while in the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every single devote Florida desires a Competition. And not 1 spend Florida provides a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't been to Washington County, you almost certainly will Imagine I am developing this up. If you have frequented Washington County, you are going to realize - and know This may be a correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some very powerful possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed here are a set of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to check here proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the constructing Using the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought The usa Congress to publicize the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by providing the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have an area to keep its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Pageant. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, between other things, the Pageant attracts a lot of folks Each and every and each year, and so they like it.
Day out for a lot of educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum could be the identical lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its ugly physique only at nighttime. That is why, when you find yourself in the right make investments Florida, you can hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it truly is not difficult seize (or shoot) a person.
An inscription about the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both of those fur and foodstuff' in the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence below has supplied a source of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in regular situations and contains been a significant support to human survival in times of distress and demanding have to have.'
Chuckle If you prefer. The folks of Wausau will chuckle alongside - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.