A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
A Place in Florida - Let us Cheer the Lowly Possum
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There's a set set up Florida that created a twelve-foot-higher monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would anybody desire to perform that?
Well, initial off, heroes are difficult to exploration on this make investments Florida - the Panhandle cash of scotland - Wausau, household of much less than five hundred persons in the heart of Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why not the possum, an not likely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else puts the possum on the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back in 1982, Wausau received sick and fatigued with becoming ignored with the Florida lists of fun, fairs and festivals. Just about every dedicate Florida desires a Pageant. And never just one devote Florida carries a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you have not been to Washington County, you probably will Believe I'm making this up. For those who have been to Washington County, you can fully grasp - and know This can be the real story.
Wausau, it turned out, experienced some quite potent possum politicians over the early '80s. Allow me to share a couple of points they achieved:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led towards the making from the monument together State Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even acquired The usa Congress in advertising and marketing the possum. Congress joined the enjoyable by delivering the funds for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau may have a region to help keep its annual Enjoyable Working day and Possum Competition. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, amid other things, the festival appeals to A lot of people yearly, and so they obtain it irresistible.
Outing for some educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is identical lowly animal you connect with opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can perform?) It's a smallish marsupial that lives in trees and displays its unappealing entire body only in the evening. This is why, whenever you find yourself inside the proper dedicate Florida, you may listen to possum hunters' puppies baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', thus it can be not so hard to hook (or shoot) a person.
An inscription to the monument in the middle of Wausau cites the possum's part in providing 'both equally fur and foods' from the centuries. It goes onto say: 'Their existence here has presented a resource of nutritious and flavorful foods in ordinary occasions and it's been A vital aid to human survival when in distress and significant have to have.'
Laugh If you would like. The men and women of Wausau will giggle as well as you - although downing baked possum and more info sweet potatoes.