A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There is a set set up Florida that built a 12-foot-significant monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone want to accomplish that?
Nicely, to get started with, heroes are tough to seek out on this place in place Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, home of under 500 folks in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum having a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, past 1982, Wausau received Ill and weary with becoming disregarded with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Every single set set up Florida desires a festival. Rather than just one devote Florida provides a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have never frequented Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I'm creating this up. When you have absent to Washington County, you'll recognize - and know this is the real story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite strong possum politicians throughout the early '80s. Allow me to share a set of factors they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the setting up within the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress in promoting the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable through delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a spot to assist its yearly Exciting Day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition draws in Many people each year, and in order that they uncover it irresistible.
Day out for a few educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you get in touch with opossum, more info (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only at night. That is why, if you are throughout the proper spot in Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', so it's not so tough to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription within the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's role in offering 'equally fur and food stuff' over the overall generations. It goes on say: 'Their presence here has provided a source of nutritious and flavorful foods in typical occasions and it has been a big assist to human survival in moments of distress and demanding have to have.'
Chuckle if you prefer. The people of Wausau will snicker with you - while downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.