Bre’s story begins in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where she and her husband built Lakeside Small Engine from the ground up. As a skilled small engine mechanic, Bre earned a reputation for her honesty and expertise, transforming her shop into a trusted community hub. Customers traveled miles to see her, knowing she could fix what others couldn’t—carburetors, chainsaws, lawn mowers, and more. She didn’t just repair machines; she rebuilt trust in an industry often plagued by overcharging and unnecessary repairs.

But running a repair shop is relentless. Every season brought new challenges: lawn mowers in spring, chainsaws in summer, leaf blowers in fall, and generators in winter. The physical toll was immense—years of lifting heavy equipment, bending over machines, and pulling starter ropes left Bre with debilitating hip problems that would eventually require surgery. These health issues, combined with the financial strain of running a small business, began to take their toll.

In 2017, Bre started the Chickanic YouTube channel, sharing her small engine repair expertise with the world. Her straightforward, no-nonsense approach struck a chord with viewers, and her channel quickly grew to over 610,000 subscribers and 100 million views. During the pandemic, her tutorials became essential as people turned to DIY repairs amid supply chain disruptions and limited professional services.

However, the success of Chickanic came at a cost. Running a popular YouTube channel is a full-time job, requiring constant content creation, editing, and audience engagement. Bre was juggling two demanding careers—repairing equipment at her shop and creating online tutorials. The pressure was immense, and the lines between her professional and online personas blurred. Exhaustion set in, and the weight of maintaining both her shop and her channel became unsustainable.

In October 2023, Bre made the painful decision to close Lakeside Small Engine. The shop that had been her life’s work was no longer financially viable, and her health issues made the physical demands of repair work impossible. She moved her operations to her home, scaling down but continuing to create content for her loyal audience.

Yet, Bre’s challenges didn’t end with the closure of her shop. Deepfake technology emerged as a new threat, with AI-generated videos mimicking her face, voice, and mannerisms. These fake videos spread incorrect repair instructions, potentially damaging equipment and eroding the trust Bre had built over years. The rise of deepfake fraud has made it nearly impossible for content creators to protect their identities, as fake videos multiply faster than they can be taken down.

Bre’s story is also intertwined with the larger battle for the right to repair—a movement fighting against corporate resistance to independent repair. Major companies argue that products are too complex for consumers to fix, but Bre’s tutorials empower people to repair their own equipment, challenging a system designed to keep consumers reliant on manufacturers. The fight for the right to repair has gained momentum, with new legislation in the U.S., Canada, and the European Union requiring manufacturers to provide repair materials to consumers and independent shops.

Despite the challenges, Bre continues her mission. Chickanic is still alive, and Bre is adapting to her new reality, creating content from home while managing her health. Her tutorials remain a lifeline for those who want to save time, money, and frustration by fixing their own equipment. The shop may be closed, but Bre’s legacy lives on through the community she has built and the knowledge she shares.

Bre’s story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of helping others. She has accomplished more at 38 than most people do in a lifetime, and her impact on the repair industry and her audience is undeniable. Her journey reminds us that sometimes, the end of one chapter is just the beginning of another.