A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A spot in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a commit Florida that crafted a twelve-foot-high monument in the center of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person ought to do that?
Properly, 1st off, heroes are tricky to search out within this devote Florida - the Panhandle capital of scotland- Wausau, property of a lot less than five hundred folks all through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum having a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Secondly, back 1982, Wausau obtained sick and tired of being omitted Together with the Florida lists of enjoyment, fairs and festivals. Each commit Florida demands a Competition. And not a single commit Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have never absent to Washington County, you most likely will Feel I'm causeing this to become up. When you've got been to Washington County, you will understand - and know this is the genuine Tale.
Wausau, it wound up, experienced some pretty highly effective possum politicians inside the early '80s. Allow me to share certain things they completed:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the initial Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your setting up with the monument alongside Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.
They website even acquired the United States Congress to market place the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by furnishing the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a spot to carry its yearly Fun Working day and Possum Pageant. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, amongst other items, the festival appeals to A lot of people each year, and Additionally they like it.
Time out for your couple of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is definitely the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when 6 is going to do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unsightly system only during the night time. This is exactly why, In case you are inside proper area in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', as a result it's not so complicated capture (or shoot) just one.
An inscription to the monument in the heart of Wausau cites the possum's position in furnishing 'each fur and foodstuff' through the generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence in this article has provided a resource of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in standard instances and has been a vital support to human survival in instances of distress and critical have to have.'
Chuckle if you want. The people of Wausau will giggle along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.