We Raised Over $1,600 for 3E Snacks! | Anniversary Bash Recap, Austin Burke & Morning Brew Chaos

What a weekend in the White Mountains, best friend!

On today’s episode of The Morning Brew, we recap Horne Auto Center’s Anniversary Bash at The House in Show Low, Arizona — and thanks to this incredible community, we were able to raise over $1,600 for 3E Snacks through the cornhole tournament and Burger of the Week! Chris from The House joins us in studio to recap the event, reveal the fundraising total, and relive some of the fun from the weekend.

We also catch up with Austin Burke after his performances at Torreon and The House, where he shares what stood out most about his time in the White Mountains — and even reveals he’s officially working on a new album for 2027.

Plus:
• Brian from Pinedale recaps the bash
• Paul from Beaumont explains why he missed the party
• We play “Museum Piece or Redneck Garage?”
• ACM Awards recap during Country News Minute
• Motivational Monday with Janine Ford

It’s a fun, emotional, community-filled episode of The Morning Brew with Chris Bennett & Best Friends.

Be nice to yourself, be nice to others, and don’t be a jerk.

Transcript

The Fundraiser Total Revealed

SPEAKER_02 0:00

How much were we able to raise for 3e snacks?

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Drumroll, please. We are giving a check to 3e snacks today for$1,600. Oh my. And I believe you have some cash in your hand as well.

Austin Burke Recaps The Weekend

SPEAKER_02 0:11

Yeah, I have uh$53. So$1,653 towards 3e snacks. Very cool. Yep, that was Chris from the house. And thanks to this amazing community, we were able to raise over$1,600 for 3e snacks through Horn Auto Center's anniversary bash, the Cornhole Tournament, and the Burger of the Week this weekend. Good morning, best friends, and welcome to the Morning Brew podcast. On today's episode, we recap an incredible weekend in the White Mountains. We catch up with Austin Burke after his big performances at Torreon and the House and get his thoughts on the weekend. Chris from the house joins us in studio for some laughs and to recap the event. We also talk with Kaylee Willis from 3E Snacks about what this support means for local families. Plus, we get a call from Brian from Pinedale, who uh calls about the anniversary batch. Plus, we find out what Paul from Beaumont did this weekend, and we play some ridiculous games, recap the ACM awards during our country news minute, and we get motivated with Janine Ford for Motivational Monday. It's a fun, emotional, community-filled episode of the morning brew, best friends. Let's get it started. Chris Bennett and the Morning Brew. On the phone, we are joined by Austin Burke, baby, our headliner for our big anniversary bash this weekend. Fresh off his plane from Nashville after an awesome weekend here in the White Mountains. First off, Austin, thank you so much for coming out to the anniversary bash.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

Man, thank you, Chris. It was so much fun and just had a had a blast at Torreon on Friday. Got to play some great golf. And then uh obviously the house was phenomenal. Just such amazing people from top to bottom. I met so many incredible listeners and fans, and I just I want to thank everybody from the bottom of my heart for having me out. And I think we might need to do it again.

SPEAKER_02 1:58

Absolutely. What was uh your overall takeaway from uh the weekend here in Sholo in the White Mountains? Like, was there one moment that stuck out to you?

SPEAKER_01 2:06

I mean, to be honest, I think it was just the people. Like every everybody I met was was super nice. Um, you know, Brandon, my guitar player, he had a blast. He just he had so much fun. It was nice. My dad lives out there too, so I got to see him and spend some time with family. But man, I would just say overall, just just the people. Like really, really good people up there and and show out and and Pine Top. And I mean it's just it was it was special.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

So what's next for Austin Burke uh right now? I think you have your playlist at podcast tonight, right? Got got the show tonight, yep.

SPEAKER_01 2:36

Uh be sure to tune into that. Um just dropped an episode. You got the got the live show tonight, so that'll be fun. And uh and then actually one thing we Brandon and I worked on uh when we were up there is we decided I'm gonna I'm gonna start working on my album. So uh we're gonna put out an album in 2027. Heck. You heard it here first.

SPEAKER_02 2:55

Oh heck yes, we can't wait for it. Man, just thanks again. It was such a magical weekend. Hopefully we'll have you back out here again and can't wait for that new music.

ACM Awards Country News Minute

SPEAKER_01 3:05

Thank you, Chris. I gotta go get back to some crying babies. Back to reality.

Brian Reviews The Cornhole Bash

SPEAKER_02 3:08

It is now time for Chris's country news minute, and it was a big night in Vegas last night for the 2026 ACM Awards, hosted by Shania Twain. Let's go, girls. Cody Johnson took home the biggest award of the night, winning Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year, while Ella Langley had a huge night too, winning female artist of the year and single of the year for choosing Texas and Artist Songwriter of the Year. Ooh, I want to be her. I want to be her so bad. Brooks and Don picked up Duo of the Year while the Red Clay Strays won Group of the Year. Tucker Wetmore and Averyna were named New Male and Female Artists of the Year. Plus, performances lit up the MGM grand from stars like Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, and Thomas Rhett. That is Chris's country news minute. Good morning. It's the morning brew with Chris. Who's this?

SPEAKER_03 4:03

Good morning, champion Chris Pennett. You survived it. I survived.

SPEAKER_02 4:08

It was a wild weekend. I definitely slept uh pretty much uh the day away yesterday once we got everything squared away. But it's Brian from Pinedale, and you made it uh uh to the house for some of our party on uh Saturday for the cornhole tournament. What'd you think?

SPEAKER_03 4:23

We all had a really good time. I want to thank Horn Auto for putting it on and thank everybody that came. Everybody in our group had a blast playing cornhole.

SPEAKER_02 4:35

How long did you last in the tournament? It was double eliminations. Yeah, I lasted two rounds. You played two games and you were out.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

Yep. My wife lasted the longest out of our whole group. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 4:47

How many games did she play?

SPEAKER_03 4:48

She got into like the fifth round, I think.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Nice, yeah. Yeah. It was uh really exciting. The winners were uh, so this is crazy. Our headliner of the show was Austin, and the winners were Austin and Austin.

SPEAKER_03 5:01

Yeah, I know. We stuck around for the ceremony. And I didn't know the house had a burger that is huge, and it's made on like two crispy cream donuts.

SPEAKER_02 5:13

Or just two, yeah, two uh glazed donuts. Yeah, they're totally burger.

SPEAKER_03 5:17

Well, yeah, one of our group and the party got that. It is huge. I was I was surprised he ate it all.

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Yeah, they got some great food there, and yeah, it was uh it was an awesome time. Congrats to Austin and Austin on winning the Cornhole Tournament. They won a thousand dollars and two pairs of tickets to see Kenny Chesney in Vegas and two pairs of tickets to see Lee Bryce in concert.

SPEAKER_03 5:40

So that's some flag staff, right?

SPEAKER_02 5:42

Yep, yep. Uh he's gonna be there uh July 18th, so you can still get tickets if you didn't win them.

SPEAKER_03 5:47

All right.

SPEAKER_02 5:48

Awesome.

SPEAKER_03 5:49

I just wanted to call in and thank everybody. Thank you. Congratulations. Hopefully another six years, right?

Paul Plays Museum Or Redneck Garage

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Yep, yep, absolutely. Thank you so much. Woo! That's Bob Vlog! Beaumont says so! Yay, yay! Yay, yay! Everyone's favorite redneck from Beaumont, Texas. Paul from Beaumont, we missed you this weekend, buddy. Man, I bet that was a good talk. It was I don't know how you say it in redneck, but it was it was funner than frogs frolicking. Is that close or no? No.

SPEAKER_04 6:23

Yeah, my yeah, uh it had to be funny, and putting up chicken coops in 100 degrees. Is that what you got to do this weekend? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Oh man, that's a bummer. Uh yeah, Rhonda got a bunch of new chickens and she put you to work, and so one of her presents you got, because it was her birthday, Mother's Day, and your anniversary all in one. So one of the presents you got her was a chicken coop. Is that it?

SPEAKER_04 6:47

No, no, no, no. That was before, but she was like, oh my birthday, just I just want you to put it up and have a good attitude and no cussing. And then she decided she wanted to care for something else that covered the whole Mother's Day anniversary birthday. I was like, okay, we'll get it. Well, we're putting up check tissue. You said you have a good attitude. So that was before you returned that gift for another gift. You can't claim the gift you return.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

That's right. Uh, well, uh, it sounds like uh you had a week. What I mean, that's a lot to ask to for you to put something up and have a good attitude and no cussing? Yeah, exactly. Today, Paul is International Museum Day. So we're gonna play a game called Museum Piece or Redneck Garage. Is this item displayed in a museum somewhere or sitting in somebody's redneck garage? Here we go. A two-headed calf wearing sunglasses. Is that in a museum or a redneck garage? Paul. Oh gosh, that's not an option. It's either a museum or a redneck garage. Which one? Uh I'm gonna say garage. No, it is a museum displayed in oddities collections at places like the Museum of Osteology. Uh, how about a riding lawnmower converted into a hot tub? Paw. Paw. That's definitely a redneck garage. There you go. Do you have one of those? Uh uh. No, have you ever been in one? I don't even know where you begin. What about a squirrel taxidermied while riding a tiny motorcycle?

SPEAKER_04 8:32

Paw.

SPEAKER_02 8:33

Paw. Museum. There you go. Yes. Featured in folk art style exhibits at the Museum of Everyday Life. And uh, last one, a chandelier made entirely out of deer antlers and bush light cans. Paul. Paul.

SPEAKER_03 8:49

Redneck garage.

SPEAKER_02 8:50

There you go. Yep. Seen hanging in a hunting cabin near Bolesman, Montana. You are smarter than a handsome radio DJ. Paul, thank you so much for calling in and having fun with us uh today, best friend. Hope you have a great rest of your day. Hey, you too, man.

SPEAKER_04 9:06

Have a good show. Thank you.

Chris From The House Recaps

SPEAKER_02 9:08

All right, bye. I am so happy to be joined by Chris from the House Restaurant in Sholo to talk about our amazing event we had Saturday, the Horn Auto Center Morning Brew.

SPEAKER_00 9:20

Good morning, my friend.

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Good morning. I am still recouping from this weekend.

SPEAKER_00 9:25

I said that when I walked in the door this morning. I am still recovering, but it was worth it. What a party.

SPEAKER_02 9:29

Yeah, it was uh amazing. What did you think of the uh overall vibe, crowd turnout?

SPEAKER_00 9:35

The vibe was epic in the yard. It was just a perfect combination of families and friends and your crew and our crew, and it I I don't know about you, but the whole the whole day from start to finish was just so much fun. Between the music and the cornhole and ending the night with with Austin Burke, oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

Yeah, the music all day we started with the Hebrew Ridge uh band, then we had uh the Arizona Peaches and of course Austin Burke at the end. At what moment of the day did you realize, hey, this might uh actually turn into something special?

SPEAKER_00 10:06

You know, I was nervous all day. We had to do that tight flip between it's a cornhole venue, let's flip the yard, now it's a concert venue. Right. And so even that we were set, we were ready between you and I, I felt we had a good plan. Until it happens, though you never know. Right. And once we got that yard flipped and uh VAP started walking into the section that area, I took a deep breath, looked at you like, we made this. And it was, you know, it was fun the whole time, but at that moment it was like, okay, we're here.

SPEAKER_02 10:29

We did it. Yeah. It was you guys handled it so well from the cornhole tournament, everything ran smoothly. It was amazing. It was everything the house is about family, community, and just good times.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

And it, you know, hopefully we represented you well. This was your party, your bash, and we wanted you to have a good time. I looked at you a couple times. You had a big old grin on your face.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, we I had an amazing time. One of uh my favorite things is we were able to raise some money for a great local nonprofit called 3e Snacks that helps uh kids around the mountain get the food they need on the weekends when they don't have access to the food at the schools uh during the week. And uh I love them because 100% of what we raise goes towards food for the kids. There's no admin fees, no overhead costs, no overhead, it's just huge. So everything we raise goes towards you know giving back to these kids.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

That's that's what this this this community is so cool. Like you and I can get together, have a big party, and it's not just the fun, which it was a lot of fun. Yeah, yeah. But then actually something good comes out of it. Yeah, come on.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Yeah, this community knows how to have fun, but even more than that, it knows how to help. So it's got a big heart. And uh, so how about we get the grand reveal between the cornhole tournament and the burger of the week? How much were we able to raise for 3e snacks? Drumroll, please.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

We are giving a check to 3e snacks today for$1,600. Oh my and I believe you have some cash in your hand as well.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Yeah, I have uh$53. So$1,653 towards three e snacks. Very cool. Holy moly, thanks so much, best friends, for coming having a great time for a great cause. And that's what this community is about, helping each other.

SPEAKER_00 12:10

That's right. We do this, we do this together. You see it every time. You and I talked a lot about it that day. In all the all the stress and the chaos and the fun, at the end of that this community comes together, it takes care of itself. Absolutely.

Kaylee From 3E Snacks Reacts

SPEAKER_02 12:21

Thank you so much for everyone that came out, had fun, and helped us raise some money for three e snacks. Big shout out to our cornhole sponsors, uh, McCaleb Wealth Management, your Dave Ramsey Smart Vester Pro and certified financial planner. Brown and Russo Insurance, give them a chance to save you money. And Alabos, they bought uh the majority of the cornhole spots uh for people and uh helped raise some money for three e snacks. So thank you to everyone, and of course, thank you to Horn Auto Center, Comfort Fit Denters, and the House Restaurant for making this event possible. On the phone, we have Kaylee Willis with 3e snacks. Hi, Kaylee. And we have Chris from the house. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 13:01

Uh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02 13:03

You were the nonprofit that uh we partnered with for our anniversary bash to raise money through the Cornhole Tournament and the Burger of the Week. And uh thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you had a good time.

SPEAKER_06 13:14

Oh, it was so fun. What a it was a beautiful day.

SPEAKER_00 13:18

Wasn't it? Yeah, we could not have been blessed with better weather. Yeah. It was beautiful all day.

SPEAKER_02 13:22

It was such a great day. And uh we announced it earlier, but I don't think you've heard yet. I'll let uh Chris from the house announce between the Cornwall Tournament and the Burger of the Week, we were able to raise$1,600 for free e-snacks.

SPEAKER_06 13:39

That is incredible.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 13:42

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02 13:43

It was awesome. You guys do such great work in the community and uh, you know, feeding the kids that uh need food on the weekends that don't have access to it, and so hopefully uh that will uh go a little way to uh uh to help those kids get the food they need on the weekends.

SPEAKER_06 13:59

Oh my goodness, you have no idea, and it came at such a perfect time, and what a beautiful thing it was on Saturday, all of the community coming together, everybody was having so much fun, and it was just it was such a neat thing to be to, uh, let alone raising that money. Like it was just such a beautiful community event, and it really means a whole lot. That money will feed the kids all this week, and that's the end of our school year, and that's just perfect, and we so appreciate it. Um, we just have no idea, it's such a blessing.

SPEAKER_02 14:34

Well, we're glad to help, and if anybody wants to help out some more, learn more about 3e snacks, check him out on Facebook at 3e snacks.

SPEAKER_06 14:42

Thank you to you both.

Motivational Monday For Graduates

SPEAKER_02 14:42

Thanks, Kaylee. Absolutely. Thanks, Kaylee. Bye. Bye-bye. Janine, you there? Yes, I am. See, see, Janine, uh, welcome. I have Chris from the house. Hi, Chris.

SPEAKER_00 14:53

Hey Janine, how are you, ma'am?

SPEAKER_05 14:55

Good, good. You guys had a great weekend. That's super cool.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

We had a big party. It was a good time. It was everything you would expect from Chris Bennett.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Yes, we raised over uh$1,600 for three e snacks.

SPEAKER_05 15:07

Oh, I love three e-snacks, that's so cool.

SPEAKER_02 15:09

Through the Cornwall tournament and the burger of the week at the house. It's uh and uh your burger of the week this week is the Caprizi. Caprizi burger this week. I'm gonna have to try that. We have to come down. Awesome. Well, Janine, it is motivational Monday. So with graduation this week, I picked some graduation-themed motivational quotes to get the class of 2026 motivated. You ready?

SPEAKER_05 15:32

Yes, I am.

SPEAKER_02 15:32

All right, this is from Henry David Thoreau. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

SPEAKER_05 15:40

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 15:41

Good advice. Yes. Uh Nora Efron said, your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead. Oh, yes. Uh Albert Schweitzer said, success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.

unknown 15:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_02 15:58

I like that one. Theodore Ro uh, well, no, here let's see. Abraham Lincoln said, the best way to predict your future is to create it.

SPEAKER_05 16:07

There you go.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

And last one, Norman Vaughn. Dream dream big and dare to fail.

SPEAKER_05 16:13

There we go. Oh gosh, they're all good.

SPEAKER_00 16:15

Yeah, those are really good. Last time it was a little easier. These are harder. This is really good. What do you think, Janine?

SPEAKER_05 16:20

Um, the next to the last one I liked a lot.

SPEAKER_02 16:24

Next to last Lincoln. Uh Abraham Lincoln. The best way to predict your future is to create. There you go. I would have to agree with you on that.

SPEAKER_05 16:32

Yeah, overall, that's a really strong one.

SPEAKER_02 16:34

That is a good one. Well, that's our motivational quote for the week, and our motivational quote to class of 2026. Congratulations to all our graduates. Congratulations, guys.

SPEAKER_05 16:43

Congrats. That's so awesome. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 16:45

Awesome. We love you best, friend. Have a great day.

SPEAKER_05 16:47

You have a good one too. But by Janine, thanks for having everybody, Chris's. Yeah. Chris Cross, we'll make you. Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_02 16:54

Before I let Chris from the house off the hook and out of the studio, we are going to. Now we're just gonna have some good old-fashioned brew crew fun. We're gonna play a game on this International Museum Day. You tell me, Chris, is this in a museum or not? Or in your house. Or a giant ball made entirely of human hair. Is that something uh in a museum or not? Not. You say not, and you are wrong. Wow. Uh it's at the Leela's Hair Museum, which is. Of course there's a hair museum.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

What was I thinking?

SPEAKER_02 17:29

Uh what about uh a museum uh dedicated entirely to failed inventions? Oh, it's gotta be. Yeah, you are right. Yep, the museum of failure features bizarre failed products and inventions. That would be a fun one. That would be fun and some pictures of me. Where's that one at? I don't I don't know where that is. Come on. Uh how about uh let's see, uh a museum that preserves the world's most disappointing sandwiches. Probably not.

SPEAKER_00 17:57

Not, not, not, not. No. We've got a few of those at the restaurant, by the way. They don't all work.

SPEAKER_02 18:04

Not on the menu right now, but you've had some that haven't worked.

SPEAKER_00 18:07

We've had some that don't work.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Oh man, I love the uh the Chris Bennett burger. Uh and how about uh a museum collection featuring over 30,000 rubber ducks? Oh, there's gotta be quite on. Yep, yep. The rubber duck museum. Cool has thousands of rubber ducks from around the world. And last one, a museum dedicated entirely to instant ramen noodles. Wow.

SPEAKER_00 18:32

I would absolutely not, but yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:34

Yeah, you're right. You're right. Yeah, there is the Cup of Noodles Museum. Celebrates ramen history and inventions. Uh, if we had uh a house museum featuring maybe uh the best house item of all time, that's gotta be a hard one. What what would be in the uh the house museum?

SPEAKER_00 18:53

Oh my gosh, that's probably it the two apps that have been on the menu since day one, the cornfritters and the barn fresh.

Thanks, Takeaways, And Sign-Off

SPEAKER_02 18:59

Yep, those are two of my favorite items on the house menu as well. And uh make sure you check out the house, show them uh some support. Well, that will do it for today's episode of the morning brew. Huge thank you again to everyone who came out to support Horn Auto Center's morning brew anniversary bash this weekend. Whether you came out for the cornhole tournament, the live music, the burger of the week, or just to hang out, we seriously appreciate this amazing community. And thanks to all of you, we were able to raise over sixteen hundred dollars for three e snacks, which is absolutely incredible. If you had a good time with us this morning, please share this episode with a friend, and we'll be back tomorrow for more fun, more chaos, and more small town energy on the morning brew. For the morning brew, I'm Chris Bennett, reminding you to be nice to yourself, be nice to others, and don't be jerk.