A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a devote Florida that designed a 12-foot-higher monument all through town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone may like to do that?
Properly, to begin with, heroes are tough to come by using this type of invest Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland - Wausau, household of less than 500 persons in the guts of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No one else places the possum around the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, back in 1982, Wausau acquired sick and worn out with getting left out Using the Florida lists of enjoyable, fairs and festivals. Just about every location in Florida desires a Pageant. Rather than a person devote Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't attended Washington County, you almost certainly will Assume I am developing this up. When you have been to Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know It's really a correct Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some very strong possum politicians in early '80s. Here are certain things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the pretty very first Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led to your developing in the monument along Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained America Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the exciting via offering the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a site to hold its once-a-year Pleasurable Working day and Possum Festival. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among other matters, the Competition draws in Many of us on a yearly basis, and so that they find it irresistible.
Day trip for some educating of Northerners here. The check here South's possum is equivalent lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unsightly human body only at night. That's why, after you end up in the right spot in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' pet dogs baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', therefore it is not so tricky capture (or shoot) one.
An inscription with regard to the monument in the guts of Wausau cites the possum's position in supplying 'both equally fur and foodstuff' throughout the centuries. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has provided a supply of nutritious and flavorful food in typical periods and it has been a significant help to human survival in times of distress and critical require.'
Chuckle if you like. The folks of Wausau will giggle with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.