Short Creek founders Jeff and Dave have been friends since high school, and both studied environmental science in college. After college and some time spent working on endangered species conservation and ecology, Jeff began apprenticing on small, diverse organic farms, seeking a tangible connection to the ecological principles he had been studying. Within a few years, he had started a small farm of his own on leased land in Massachusetts, raising heirloom vegetables, grassfed beef, and pastured pork. At the same time, Dave was pursuing a PhD in evolutionary biology while actually putting most of his energy into studying homemade sausage and charcuterie production. After Dave left his PhD program to seriously pursue a career in the artisanal processed meat industry, and in 2015 he and Jeff decided they would start their own business making the best specialty meats from pork and beef they raised themselves.