Meet Abagail Burton

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Abagail Burton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Abagail, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I like to believe my work ethic comes from my grandmother, who passed earlier this year. She married young but was always independent. Other than never getting her driver’s license—she was a passenger princess until the very end—she really did it all on her own. She and my grandfather had separate businesses; she ran the dairy farm I grew up on, milking cows day and night, while my grandfather, father, and uncle pulled mules and horses for sport. My grandmother spent her entire life holding down the fort while they were gone. She grew and canned all the food, made sure the family was cared for, and never missed a beat.

At her funeral, the thing I heard the most was how hard she worked. That’s what people remembered most about her. I remember walking across the road to help her in the mornings when I was younger. Her house was always full of people, and she always had big meals ready for the boys when they came in from working with the horses and mules. Everyone counted on her, and she always showed up for them.

Watching her over the years and seeing how she never slowed down has shaped who I am today. She taught me to give 110% in everything I do, no matter how tough it gets. Carrying that with me, I try to honor her by working hard, showing up for others, and building something lasting. If people remember me the way they remembered her—by the heart and the work I put in—I’ll know I’ve done something right.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

From college dropout to district manager—my journey has been anything but traditional. In 2020, during the pandemic, I found myself lost in the mix. Over the years, I worked job after job, usually committing myself for at least a year. If I didn’t love it by then, I moved on. I bounced around for a while, eventually going the corporate route, but I ended up burnt out—giving my all and feeling like I was getting nothing in return.

I stepped away, spent some time in Michigan doing side work and traveling, and did a little soul searching. When I was ready to come back home to Tennessee, I came across an Indeed post for a dispensary in Columbia. It was just a retail position, but little did I know that applying for that job would change everything for me.

I started with Burning Acre on January 9th of this year, and I quickly realized this wasn’t just another head shop. Burning Acre is one of the leading luxury edible brands. Every product is fully organic, handmade, and completely free of artificial dyes, preservatives, and flavors. They aren’t just selling—they’re reshaping the way people see dispensaries, showing that cannabis products can be both high-end and responsible. What struck me most was that this company truly believes in its people and gives them the tools to succeed.

Within my first two weeks, I came up with the idea for chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day. I handled everything—from designing the poster to dipping the strawberries—and even set up a raffle. That promotion generated over $12,000 in just 14 days. After that, I hit the ground running and haven’t stopped since.

Through a lot of hard work and dedication, I’ve finally found a place that not only values my commitment but also helps me grow as a leader. I’ll forever be thankful to John Cureton and Emily Schafrick for giving me the opportunity to step into this role. At just 24, being trusted to oversee multiple stores and help shape the future of this company is something I don’t take lightly. It’s proof to me that the long road—the bouncing around, the setbacks, even the burnout—wasn’t wasted time. It was preparing me to find the right fit, a place where I could truly pour my energy into building something meaningful.

I don’t see this as the finish line but as the beginning. I’m excited to keep growing with Burning Acre, to keep pushing boundaries, and to represent a brand that is truly changing the industry. No matter where you start—even as a college dropout in the middle of a pandemic—you can build a path forward if you’re willing to work hard and commit fully.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three things that have helped me the most in my journey are attention to detail, perspective, and patience.

The devil is in the details. Anyone can slap their name on something and call it “good enough,” but taking the time to hammer out every last detail is what gets you noticed. Going the extra mile in everything I do has opened doors for me. People often come to me for solutions because they know I’ll fine-tune every project I touch. I’ve learned that “good enough” isn’t satisfactory—because anyone can do “good enough.”

Perspective and patience go hand in hand. I like to look at every situation from all angles before making a move because tunnel vision can get you hurt. Being able to understand why someone disagrees with you or sees something differently helps you find solutions that actually work for everyone.

And patience—that’s a virtue, especially as a leader. I’ve led teams made up of all kinds of people, from 16-year-olds working their first job to people old enough to be my grandparents, and through patience and understanding, I’ve earned their respect. Every person has a different way of learning and communicating, and if you take the time to meet them where they are, you can build something great together.

My advice to anyone early in their journey is to slow down and focus on those three things. Take pride in the small details, keep an open mind, and give yourself and others grace to grow. Those habits will take you farther than talent alone ever could.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

There are a few people who have really shaped me into the leader I am today, but the biggest name that comes to mind is Miss Cassy Ray. She took a chance on me when she didn’t have to. I told her up front that I planned to move to Tennessee within six to eight months of joining the company, but I also promised her that I would take everything she gave me and run with it. Even knowing that, she gave me the opportunity—with no prior management experience—and she ended up being one of the best leaders I’ve ever had.

Miss Cassy taught me patience, but more than that, she taught me grace. I have a bit of a processing disorder, and she never made me feel bad for not understanding something right away. She met me where I was, gave me every tool I needed to succeed, and made sure I always felt capable instead of small. She taught me that “teaching is leading,” and that you can always learn something new—because the moment you stop learning, you’ve stopped trying. For the first couple of months working for her, I would cry every time I got called into her office, even if it was for something good, just because I was afraid of being in trouble. She helped me move past that fear. She showed me that feedback isn’t a punishment; it’s part of growth. I truly don’t think I would be where I am today without her patience, compassion, and belief in me.

And speaking of today, John Cureton and Emily Schafrick, the owners of Burning Acre, have also made a huge impact on me. I’ve never worked for a company that cares more about its people. They lead by example—putting their employees first, making sure we’re taken care of before anything else, and trusting us to rise to the challenge. That kind of leadership is rare, and it’s taught me that success isn’t just about how hard you work—it’s about how you lift others while you do it.

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