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 is a set set up Florida that constructed a 12-foot-high monument all through city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one really need to do that?
Properly, first off, heroes just take time and effort to seek out on this spend Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, house of lower than five hundred persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum about the pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, again in 1982, Wausau bought Bored with being overlooked from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Each and every position in Florida demands a Competition. And not 1 spot in Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never ever attended Washington County, you probably will Feel I'm causeing this to generally be up. When you've got been to Washington County, you will have an understanding of - and know It's really a real Tale.
Wausau, it proved, had some fairly highly effective possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are two matters they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making through the monument alongside Point out Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even acquired the United States Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may need a location to hold its yearly Enjoyable Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other things, the Competition appeals to Lots of people each and every year, additionally they like it.
Time out for many educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 can perform?) It is a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unsightly body only at night. This is why, after you end up inside appropriate commit Florida, it is possible to listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', so it really is not so challenging to catch website (or shoot) a single.
An inscription about the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's role in giving 'each fur and food items' through the total centuries. It goes to say: 'Their presence below has furnished an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in typical occasions and possesses been a vital help to human survival way more distress and demanding have to have.'
Giggle if you want. The men and women of Wausau will laugh along with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.