16 Days Until Trek - Oxen


Oxen were some of the most important animals on the trail. It is not surprising that pioneers gave them names and treated them like they were part of the family. We'll have trucks to pull our equipment and food. Before steam, gas, and now electric powered vehicles, humans relied on animals to haul things and get places. That, and walking.

“Birds, rabbits, prairie dogs, eagles, chickens, antelopes, and lambs were adopted en route. Horses, oxen, and sheep became pets. Some even tried to tame buffalo calves. Most families gave pet names to their oxen. The most popular were Buck, Berry, Tom, Jerry, Bright, and Bill, but Pink, Duke, Stoney, Susy, Dick, Darby, Leon, Smut, Boily, and Snarley also made their appearance. Any of them could be prefaced ‘Old.’ Cows were christened Lady Blackie, Lady Milky, and Lady Cherry. A particularly cantankerous one rejoiced in the soubriquet of Lady Lucifer.”

Selection from Stanley B. and Violet T. Kimball's 2011 book, Villages on Wheels: A Social History of the Gathering to Zion.

AI critique. Don't really like the look of the oxen and the line of wagons behind these are pulled by horses. And where are the people. Finally, it looks like the oxen are posing for a photo. I'm sure that this is my fault, not AI's. If I knew what I was doing, I'd imagine I could come closer to what I want. Oh well, I've edited this image a few times and going to call it good. I'd love to see how you would illustrate this story.

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