Freedom is an innate longing for every man, woman, and child. We're born with this. It may not find a footing until later once we've matured a bit, but even toddlers want more freedom. As parents, we have to manage that carefully with our children. Too many boundaries and it can be repressed. Too few and a child might think they can actually flap their arms and fly. While we gain more responsibility as adults, we also want more freedom to choose how to live, where to live, and what to do with our resources. In 1620, the Mayflower was one of the vessels chosen to deliver families from Europe to the New World here in the Americas. They were searching for something they didn't have across the Atlantic. They were much like those who discovered new lands and civilizations — Magellan, Columbus, De Gama, Cabot, Henson, Drake, Cortes, Raleigh, and others who came before and after. Some sought treasure, some sought glory, others just wanted to find a place free from oppression and too many boundaries. These were our ancestors. It's in our DNA. The tree goes back a long, long way and every branch has someone who desired more freedom.

The Pilgrims were notable because they were willing to give up everything in Europe to forge a new path in the Americas — a completely unknown wilderness. If you've seen the replica of the Mayflower, you know the original wasn't anything like ships today. While it is a beautiful example of 1600's maritime, it would take some serious courage to sign up for a 10 week voyage on the high seas. The Mayflower had a tonnage or cargo carrying capacity estimated to be around 180 tons and had approximately 135 people on board. In comparison, today's cruise ships have gross tonnage of over 230,000 tons and carry nearly 7,000 passengers. That alone helps explain why they were counting their blessings after arriving at Cape Cod, Massachusetts. It also helps explain the degree to which they were seeking freedom. As Americans, we can be grateful our ancestors overcame the hardships and obstacles to find this land. We're thankful you found us on the internet. We commend your pioneering spirit and exploratory prowess. OK, so it may not have come with as much challenge, but we're glad you're here and hope you'll consider US Wellness Meats your farm family and food partner here in the New World.