There is a spend Florida that created a 12-foot-higher monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would any one may like to do that?
Nicely, to begin, heroes are tough to find in this commit Florida - the Panhandle money of scotland- Wausau, household of much less than 500 people through Washington County about 10 miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero To place it mildly? Nobody else places the possum to the pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Next, previous 1982, Wausau received sick and Weary of staying overlooked on the Florida lists of exciting, fairs and festivals. Each individual commit Florida needs a Pageant. Rather than 1 make investments Florida contains a Possum Competition. Why not Wausau?
If you haven't absent to Washington County, you most likely will think I'm causeing this for being up. For those who have attended Washington County, you may realize - and know This may be a real story.
Wausau, it proved, had some quite highly effective possum politicians in early '80s. Here's two matters they attained:
They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim Possum Removal Melbourne the First Saturday in August as Possum Day in Florida. That led into the making in the monument alongside Point out Highway 77 in Wausau.
They even obtained the United States Congress to advertise the possum. Congress joined the exciting through delivering the resources for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a place to hold its annual Entertaining Day and Possum Competition. Showcasing a queen contest and possum auction, among other things, the Competition draws in A large number of folks Every and each year, they usually find it irresistible.
Time out for plenty of educating of Northerners here. The South's possum is analogous lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use seven letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and reveals its unsightly overall body only at night. That is why, when you're within the ideal commit Florida, you are able to listen to possum hunters' canine baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', thus it can be not so tough to catch (or shoot) 1.
An inscription across the monument in the center of Wausau cites the possum's job in offering 'equally fur and food stuff' through the complete hundreds of years. It goes to say: 'Their existence in this article has furnished a resource of nutritious and flavorful food stuff in typical situations and possesses been a vital assist to human survival when in distress and demanding will need.'
Laugh if you're keen on. The people today of Wausau will snicker along - although downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.