There's a spend Florida that designed a 12-foot-superior monument in the midst of town to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any person would like to do that?
Well, to begin, heroes just take time and effort to get using this dedicate Florida - the Panhandle town of Wausau, residence of much less than five hundred folks in the center of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an not likely hero understandably? No one else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, back 1982, Wausau bought Bored with currently being left out Along with the Florida lists of pleasurable, fairs and festivals. Each and every devote Florida wants a Competition. Instead of one devote Florida includes a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you've got never attended Washington County, you most likely will think I'm building this up. In case you have attended Washington County, you may understand - and know This can be the accurate story.
Wausau, it proved, experienced some very strong possum politicians while in the early '80s. Here i will discuss two things they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led for the developing through the monument together Condition Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired America Congress to market the possum. Congress joined the fun by the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau could have a location to carry its once-a-year Enjoyment Day and read more Possum Competition. Featuring a queen contest and possum auction, among the other factors, the Competition attracts Many of us on a yearly basis, plus they like it.
Time out for some educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you simply call opossum, (Why use seven letters when six will do?) It's a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unpleasant overall body only during the night. That's why, when you are in the appropriate area in Florida, you are able to hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by canine, the possum 'freezes', as a result it truly is simple more than enough to catch (or shoot) a person.
An inscription for the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's position in giving 'both equally fur and food items' through the generations. It goes on say: 'Their existence listed here has provided an origin of nutritious and flavorful food in ordinary moments and it's been a crucial support to human survival in situations of distress and significant have to have.'
Laugh if you want. The people of Wausau will snicker coupled with you - even though downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.