A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A location in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
Blog Article
There is a commit Florida that designed a 12-foot-substantial monument during town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anyone would like to do that?
Well, to start with, heroes are tricky to have with this spot in Florida - the Panhandle funds of scotland - Wausau, home of much less than 500 persons in the center of Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? No person else places the possum over a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau bought Unwell and Fed up with being overlooked With all the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Every single devote Florida demands a Competition. And never a single area in Florida carries a Possum Pageant. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you probably will think I'm making this up. In case you have long gone to Washington County, you may comprehend - and know This may be a accurate story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some pretty potent possum politicians in the early '80s. Listed below are a set of factors they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the first Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to your making With all the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even bought The usa Congress to promote the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable through delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau might have a location to hold its yearly Enjoyment Working day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other items, the festival appeals to A large number of folks yearly, and in order that they find it irresistible.
Day trip for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is the identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will complete?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and shows its unpleasant human body only in the evening. This is exactly why, when you are inside the appropriate location in Florida, you could hear possum hunters' puppies get more info baying and barking. Treed by pet dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It can be simple capture (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with regard to the monument during Wausau cites the possum's function in supplying 'both fur and food items' through the hundreds of years. It goes on to say: 'Their existence listed here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in ordinary occasions and it's got been a vital help to human survival when in distress and important want.'
Giggle if you like. The individuals of Wausau will chortle along with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.