There's a make investments Florida that developed a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to accomplish that?
Very well, to start with off, heroes are tricky to seek out using this devote Florida - the Panhandle metropolis of Wausau, residence of under 500 persons in the midst of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero to put it mildly? No person else puts the possum around a pedestal. Why don't you Wausau?
Next, again 1982, Wausau bought sick and worn out with remaining ignored from the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each devote Florida demands a Pageant. Rather than a person set in place Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why not Wausau?
If you have in no way attended Washington County, you most likely will think I am making this up. When you have been to Washington County, you'll have an understanding of - and know this is the correct story.
Wausau, it proved, had some really powerful possum politicians in the early '80s. Here i will discuss certain things they accomplished:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the primary Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led towards the making from the monument alongside Condition Freeway seventy seven in Wausau.
They even bought The us Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the pleasurable by the cash for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could possibly have a location to keep its annual Fun Day and Possum Festival. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, between other factors, the Pageant appeals to Lots of individuals yearly, and they like it.
Trip for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six will probably do?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and shows its unattractive entire body only during the night time. That is why, if you're Within the appropriate spot in Florida, you'll be able to listen to possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by dogs, the possum 'freezes', so It's going to be uncomplicated to trap (or shoot) one.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in giving 'equally fur and food items' in the total generations. It goes on to say: 'Their presence right here has supplied a useful more info resource of nutritious and flavorful food items in typical situations and possesses been a very important support to human survival when in distress and critical have to have.'
Laugh if you love. The folks of Wausau will chortle with you - though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.