Tapping Into Sweetness
By Greg Lovell
Bree Breckel always fancied herself a friend of the forest. In fact, she says her happy place has always been the woods.
Nowadays, Breckel spends most of her time in the wooded acres she loves.
Breckel, along with her husband Eric, are the owners of Embark, a small family farm near Viroqua, Wisconsin, producing organic maple syrup and other maple specialties.
“We love being able to bring maple beyond breakfast, while working with the land in a way that builds a more resilient, sustainable watershed,” Breckel said.
Those looking for quality, responsibly-crafted products are sure to find something palate-pleasing in Embark’s lineup.
Breakfast and Beyond
Embark maple syrup on pancakes or waffles is a foregone conclusion, but Breckel says maple syrup has more applications. In fact, Maple Glazed Salmon and the Maple Old Fashioned are the two most-viewed recipes on their website.
“The rich, complex flavor lends itself to culinary and cocktail explorations,” Breckel said.
Currently, Embark’s two main product lines are their Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup and Maple Energy pouches.
The first of its kind in Wisconsin, Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup launched in 2015. Aged for two years in emptied bourbon barrels, the syrup takes on the tannins of the oak, which balances the sweetness, and develops hints of smoke and vanilla.
Maple Energy was developed in 2020 out of a passion for outdoor pursuits. Geared toward campers, adventurers, and athletes, Maple Energy is made of simple ingredients, just organic maple syrup and sea salt, and comes in a convenient resealable pouch. They have also since added elderberry and coffee versions.
“It can be used in camp cooking and cocktails, mixed in a water bottle as a homemade sports drink, and used straight from the pouch,” said Breckel. “It is perfect for outdoor adventurers and endurance athletes. Our Maple Energy has the energy and electrolytes of three to four commercial energy gels.”
Embark Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup and Pure Organic Maple Syrup can be purchased at the People’s Food Co-op. Maple Energy can be found at Coulee Bikes in Onalaska and Adventure Cycle and Ski in Winona. All products are also available for purchase online at www.embarkmaple.com.
A History of Good Taste
Having worked at the People’s Food Co-op for over a decade, Breckel was already familiar with the retail side of food prior to starting Embark. Well before that, her parents were involved in the early days of the People’s Food Co-op and were among the founding farmers of CROPP (now Organic Valley).
Breckel first met her husband Eric while he was working at Harley Davidson in Milwaukee. Originally a Holmen native, Eric was feeling the pull to come back to the Driftless Region
Soon they formed a plan.
“Some folks meet, and the next thing you know, they have a kid,” Breckel recalled. “For us, it was a farm.”
Together, they ended up closing on a parcel of land that became the first ever maple farm designated through the Vernon County office.
What started on the side as B&E’s trees in 2012 became a full time endeavor for the couple by 2017. They officially changed the company name to Embark in 2020 and have since expanded their line.
“We built our business on face-to-face events and partnerships with small independent retailers,” said Breckel.
Now they are fulltime forest farmers living in a solar-powered tiny house on the property that also includes a solar-powered sugar shack where they cook maple sap into syrup.
Seasonal Celebrations
In the years following the pandemic, and now with a young child in tow, they shifted their focus to on-site events.
Breckel says her life has always woven threads of connection between people, place, and food, so naturally she and Eric have relished playing host to area maple fans.
“My favorite thing is being able to share our woods with folks at our events,” said Breckel.
The Sap Run Scramble is on the third Saturday of March, right during syrup season. The event features a 5K course through the woods with maple-based snack stops along the way. Participants can spend all day hiking and exploring the woods, or they can compete in the Last Person Standing race.
Another event, the Ramp Romp, occurs during the last full weekend in April and includes a celebration of spring, foraging, and tasty meals. Planning for 2027 is currently underway, so look for more events to be added in the near future.
“At all our events, folks can trek through the forest and see exactly what goes into creating the products they enjoy,” said Breckel.
While it started with trees and the syrup they produce, Embark is ultimately about people.
“They can meet up with friends and create a shared experience that connects them to this place that we find pretty darn special,” said Breckel.
“And that connection is at the heart of all we do.”
This article is also available to read in our Fall 2026 edition of The Garlic Press!