There's a set set up Florida that constructed a 12-foot-higher monument in the heart of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone must do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes are tough to come by using this type of invest Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of less than 500 individuals in the middle of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No person else places the possum within the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, very last 1982, Wausau received fed up with being overlooked inside the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every single place in Florida desires a Pageant. And never a single invest Florida features a Possum Competition. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you probably will think I am generating this up. For those who have visited Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know It is just a genuine Tale.
Wausau, it ended up, experienced some rather powerful possum politicians noisy . '80s. Here's two issues they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the main Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up with the monument along Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even received The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by providing the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a spot to guidance its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other issues, the festival appeals to Lots of people Every single and annually, and so that they like it.
Day out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum will be the similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unsightly human body only in the evening. This is exactly why, when you are In the right spot in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so it is not hard capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription around the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's role in supplying 'both fur and meals' through the centuries. It goes to say: 'Their existence right here has delivered an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in standard times and it's been a substantial help to human survival in periods of distress and critical want.'
Giggle in the event you'd prefer. The people of Wausau will laugh along with you - though downing baked possum and Possum Catcher Melbourne sweet potatoes.