Meet Emily Schafrick of Burning Acre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Schafrick.

Hi Emily, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Arizona and got my B.S. in Biology from Northern Arizona University (go, Lumberjacks!) After graduation, I had all intention of diving into a career in Marine Biology, something I’ve loved since I was very young. I ended up moving to Las Vegas, NV, with the promise of a job at an aquarium that would get my foot in the door. Upon moving, the job suddenly was no longer available, and I had to pivot, and I spent many lovely years there. After the lights of the LV strip started to dim, I decided I wanted to spend some time being closer to my mother, and that’s how I landed in Columbia, TN. One morning while getting ready for work, I saw a Facebook posting for Burning Acre. Someone had commented on that post asking if Burning Acre was hiring, prompting me to also ask about employment. Once I submitted my resume (after two weeks of tweaking it), the rest was history. It was just me, the owner, and our baker when we opened the doors on January 1, 2021. Burning Acre is now an 8x award-winning luxury edible company, and I could not be more proud!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not an easy road! I was in Las Vegas for most of my early 20s, so many life lessons came with that experience. Plus, uprooting your life and deciding to move across the country is a significant step for anyone. I’ve had my share of mental health struggles and am a big advocate for mental health. Growing up with Burning Acre has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. On the flip side, it has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Working for a start-up is not for everyone, but I’m incredibly thankful for every struggle that has brought me to answer these interview questions!

Great, so let’s talk business. Please tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others.
One thing I’m incredibly proud of is being able to re-educate the community about Cannabis and help make it a safe and knowledgeable experience for new and experienced users alike. I get to use my Biology degree (which makes my parents very happy) to destigmatize the information surrounding this world. It’s funny, this past summer I was nominated for “Best Public Community Servant” in the Maury County “Best of” awards. I wasn’t sure why I was nominated, but as my mother says, “you are serving the community by spreading education.” I ended up taking 3rd place, only losing to the city Mayor by 5 votes! I try to make Burning Acre a haven for Cannabis users. Our specialty is luxury edibles, and we craft everything in-house, from chocolate chip cookies to brownie jars, to cheesecake bites, and so much more! We want our customers to know that quality is our top priority and we will do our best to make sure your experience is as clean and comfortable as possible.

Can you talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy?
Genuine human-to-human interaction makes my day. I love hearing about how much our products have helped other people. The inside of our shop has seen many happy tears! For example, a regular customer of Burning Acre was so grateful for the relief he felt, the education and time I put into helping him find the perfect dosage that he made me a flute. He hand carved/painted an orca totem, hand painted beads, and dyed hemp cord, and made me the most beautiful bamboo flute (with a stand, I might add.) I couldn’t believe it and was so grateful. Even if it’s just a fleeting moment between strangers, I love genuine, positive interactions like that. You never know what kind of day someone is having, so always be kind. Knowing I may be a positive moment in someone’s day in any way makes me happy. Also, my dog Mav, she makes me extremely happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: burningacre.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/burningacre
• Facebook: facebook.com/burningacre

Image Credits
John Cureton