I understand that Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow back in Pennsylvania indicating that spring could be right around the corner. We in Nebraska have Unadilla Bill that has been predicting spring for the southeastern part of our state since 1988. I plan to report on the origin of Groundhog Day as reported in the Old Farmer's 2019 Almanac at our Magazine Club Meeting this evening. The "Day" is always February 2 which is the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. For centuries, farmers in France and England looked to a bear; in Germany, they kept their eye on the badger. In the 1800s, German immigrants to Pennsylvania brought the tradition with them. Finding no badgers there, they adopted the groundhog who has announced springs arrival since 1887. Bill Brandt, a local Banker was able to trap a Groundhog (Wood Chuck) in 1988, had a Taxidermist embalm it, and gave it the name of Unadilla Bill. He was able to get Lt. Gov. Wm Nichol to sign a proclamation (while the Governor was out of town) designating Unadilla, Nebraska's Groundhog City. Bill's son Bob has carried on the tradition and led a parade in Unadilla for the past several years celebrating the day and its prediction.
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