PUNXSUTAWNEY – When the Prognosticator of Prognosticators is plucked from his burrow early on Friday morning, the man handling Phil – a Clearfield area native – will be a relative newbie at the venture.
Ben Hughes is known by his Inner Circle moniker of Fog Spinner, but his weather philosophy includes the idea that only farmers, gardeners and construction workers should follow the weather.
“Others should take up a hobby,” he said.
Hughes’ fun-loving nature have taken center stage at Gobbler’s Knob since he joined the Inner Circle in 2001. He has been in charge of keeping tens of thousands of people entertained before Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog makes his forecast through songs and dances.
Hughes has plenty of advice when it comes to experiencing Groundhog Day, but No. 1 on the list is “hug 50 people (to stay warm, of course),” according to information from the official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
So when Phil decides to speak his yearly wisdom on everything from politics to entertainment, remember that the man who holds Phil has roots a little farther south than Punxsutawney.