There's a area in Florida that constructed a twelve-foot-significant monument through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to perform that?
Very well, to start with, heroes are tricky to research on this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, property of below 500 folks all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to put it mildly? No one else puts the possum over a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, previous 1982, Wausau got sick and Uninterested in being omitted of the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Just about every put in place Florida demands a Competition. And not 1 place in position Florida includes a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you've under no circumstances gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will think I am earning this up. When you've got absent to Washington County, you are going to realize - and know this can be a true story.
Wausau, it ended up, had some fairly powerful possum politicians during the early '80s. Listed below are a set of issues they attained:
They check here persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led on the building with the monument together Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The us Congress in marketing the possum. Congress joined the exciting by giving the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a region to help keep its once-a-year Enjoyment Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Competition draws in tons of folks Each and every and each year, as well as they adore it.
Outing for many educating of Northerners listed here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you phone opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 will do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its hideous system only during the night. That is why, If you're Within the suitable place in position Florida, it is possible to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canines, the possum 'freezes', so It really is not hard to trap (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription around the monument through Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and food items' throughout the full centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence here has offered an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in normal instances and possesses been a big help to human survival through situations of distress and demanding want.'
Giggle in case you'd want. The men and women of Wausau will giggle together with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.