A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a dedicate Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-large monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone may well like to do that?
Perfectly, to begin with, heroes are difficult to come by in this set set up Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of less than five hundred folks in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero as you'd probably expect? No person else places the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau got tired of staying left out from the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Every put in position Florida wants a Pageant. Rather than one particular commit Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have not attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Believe I'm generating this up. For those who have frequented Washington County, you will realize - and know it is a accurate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some fairly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Listed here are a set of things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your developing from your monument along State Freeway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the entertaining by offering the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would've a place to carry its once-a-year Fun Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among the other matters, the Pageant appeals to Many of us Every single and annually, they usually adore it.
Outing for plenty of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is similar lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will accomplish?) It's a smallish marsupial that more info lives in trees and shows its unsightly human body only during the night. That's why, after you end up inside of proper area in Florida, you'll be able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so It will probably be straightforward to lure (or shoot) one particular.
An inscription for your monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's function in supplying 'each fur and meals' throughout the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has offered a useful resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in normal times and has been a significant assistance to human survival during moments of distress and critical will need.'
Snicker if you like. The persons of Wausau will laugh together - whilst downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.